On March 29, 2006, I introduced three amendments to H.R. 609, the College Access and Opportunity Act, to help our young medical professionals and public service employees overcome increasingly crushing debt burdens upon graduation.  Although I believe H.R. 609 does not go far enough to support our young professionals, I am pleased to report that H.R. 609 was passed in the House with my amendments included.

Following medical school graduation, young doctors go through residency training programs that provide hands-on training in their specialty.  Recently, there has been a decline in the number of medical school graduates entering residency programs lasting more than five years.  Many of these students cannot afford the necessary training for these specialties due to mortgage-size student loans they accumulate after almost a decade of study. 

My amendment to H.R. 609 provides loan forgiveness for medical residents in training for more than five years to encourage more students to enter specialties facing a shortfall.  Unless doctors enter these specialties, the U.S. will experience a decline in health care access for seniors, critically ill patients, and other vulnerable citizens.  H.R. 609  also includes a study at my behest  that will investigate why students pick certain medical specialties; this will provide further evidence to strengthen loan forgiveness or deferment for these critically needed health care professionals.

Public service employees, including social workers, nurses, teachers, and lawyers, also face daunting debt following graduation.  As public service salaries tend to be much lower than those in the private sector, many graduates cannot afford to continue in these noble jobs.  I have included an amendment in H.R. 609 that provides loan forgiveness for eligible public service employees.  This will encourage highly trained individuals to enter and continue their service in areas of national need.

We cannot ignore the growing challenges our young processionals face in their efforts to serve our county and its citizens.  I will continue to work within Congress to ensure the cost of education is never an impediment to such selfless service.

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