DeLauro Statement on Student Loans, Transportation Package

Statement

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today on the bill before Congress that will keep the student loan interest rate at 3.4 percent for another year and continue to fund major transportation projects for the next 27 months:

"I am pleased that Republicans have finally come to the table and we worked out an agreement to stop the doubling of the student loan interest rate. This will ease the pressures of students' rising debt and avoids needlessly placing all of the costs on working American families. Keeping college affordable and available benefits the middle class and passage of this bill is good news for them.

"My support for the transportation part of this package is much more reluctant. The bill does allow some Connecticut projects to move forward and is far better than the wholly inadequate funding in the House Majority's bill, which would have been devastating for Connecticut's transportation network and job creation. I have deep concerns with the bill, including cuts to conservation and other environmental policies that will likely have a detrimental impact, and the failure to put transit commuter benefits on par with parking benefits. Ultimately, this bill lacks the long-term national strategy and financing we need to create good middle class jobs and rebuild America. I will continue to fight for the enhanced commitments we need in our transportation, water, energy and telecommunications systems, including the establishment of a National Infrastructure Bank that would allow the United States to remain competitive in a global economy."

Source