Ellison Statement on Disastrous Republican Student Loan Bill

Statement

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) issued the following statement after voting against a Republican bill that robs health care funding to prevent student loan rate increases:

"The American people should never have to choose between their health and their education. Today House Republicans told women they can't have preventive breast and cervical exams, and told children they can't have regular check-ups or immunizations, if we are going to have fair student loan rates.

"If Republicans were serious about protecting the middle class they would reinforce the importance of higher education, which is one of the surest vehicles to economic opportunity. Instead they want to sacrifice crucial health care services for women and children.

"According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, total outstanding student loan debt rose to more than $1 trillion last year, making it higher than credit card debt. Minnesota's Office of Higher Education reports that cost of attending one of the state's public four-year institutions is $18,454, slightly higher than the national average at $18,205. And, the average Minnesota college student has $29,000 in loan debt.

"I cannot support a policy that sets one group of working Americans against another while wealthy individuals and corporations continue to reap the best this country has to offer. We can keep college within reach of middle-class Americans without sacrificing fairness."

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