05.15.13

Miller Statement on Reed-Harkin Student Loan Proposal

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement today after U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Jack Reed (D-RI), along with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), introduced legislation that would freeze interest rates on subsidized Stafford student loans at 3.4 percent for two years. The Student Loan Affordability Act would allow Congress to time to work on a long-term solution during the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

“Unlike the House Republican student loan proposal this legislation doesn’t charge students and families nearly $4 billion more for their college education,” said Rep. Miller. “I applaud Senators Harkin and Reed for introducing this smart, responsible legislation that keeps student loan interest rates affordable and helps ensure that a college degree remains within reach for students and families.”

House Republicans’ proposal (H.R. 1911) will be voted in committee tomorrow. For more information on the bill, click here.