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Fix the Looming Increase in Student Loan Rates
On July 1, the interest rate on student loans is going to increase from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. It's going to double unless we act. More than 7 million students and their families would be affected. So the need to act is urgent.
Instead, Republicans have filibustered a motion to proceed to important legislation. Republicans have voted against even allowing the U.S. Senate to begin to debate a bill.
Hundreds of thousands of students in my state of Michigan depend on federal student loans to help afford college. They and their families know that college is not getting any cheaper. They don't need a doubled interest rate on top of tuition increases. For many, an affordable loan is the difference between staying in school or giving up the dream of a college education.
I urge our Republican colleagues to end their filibuster of this vital bill. If Republicans think they have a better way, let us debate their alternatives and let us vote. Let us end this filibuster and let us end it today.