Newsletter - Keeping College Affordable

Statement

Below is an overview of some of the work I've done in Congress recently, including:

Preventing student loan interest rates from doubling
New lungs for Sarah
Combating military sexual assault
The show must go on!
Congressional baseball game
Congratulations to Team StayHot!

To learn more about what I have been working on, please visit my website, my Facebook page, and follow me on Twitter.

Sincerely,

Preventing student loan interest rates from doubling
The federal student loan interest rate is set to double on July 1st. The House passed a bipartisan bill - the Smarter Solutions for Students Act (H.R. 1911) - on May 23rd. This legislation stops the interest rate hike and establishes a long-term solution by connecting student loan interest rates to the market rate of Treasury bonds, taking the yearly politics out of this issue and stopping the annual threat of drastic rate hikes. The problem now is the Senate has yet to act. Time is running out, which is why I joined a group of bipartisan colleagues in sending a letter to Senators Reid and McConnell asking that they pass legislation immediately.
Read more here.

New lungs for Sarah
Last week, we received the wonderful news that 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan underwent lung transplant surgery at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. I was delighted to hear that Sarah received the life-saving lung transplant that she so desperately needed. She is one of the most courageous fighters I've ever seen, and she has an army of support behind her as she undergoes her recovery. I send my thoughts and prayers to her, her family, and the talented doctors and staff at CHOP that are caring for her. We must also recognize that Sarah's chance at life comes through a gift of enormous generosity from someone else, and we should keep that person and their family in our thoughts and prayers as well. This demonstrates the huge importance of the life-saving gift of organ donation.

Combating military sexual assault
The House passed its annual defense policy bill last week which included several meaningful provisions to deal with the dramatic rise in sexual assault in the military. Victims of sexual assault should never have to fear their attackers will not be brought to justice. Nor should victims of sexual assault should have to salute their attacker. I applaud my colleagues for joining me in standing up for victims and strengthening protections for them within our military judicial system. This vote is an important step forward in the effort to combat this crisis.

The show must go on!
I sponsored an amendment to the annual defense policy bill that will overturn a prohibition on military bands playing at community events. When bureaucracy gets in the way of something as simple as a military band performing at a community event, we need to correct it. Rich in tradition and history, the United States military bands have performed for Presidents and foreign leaders and at small town American fairs and parades. The prohibition to perform at local, community-based events smacked of senseless Washington bureaucracy. I'm pleased this amendment has passed and as the saying goes, "the show must go on." West Chester resident Kathleen Finnerty, who serves as co-chair of the Philadelphia Celebration Ball Committee, contacted my office earlier this year when the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps band was not permitted to perform at this year's event.

Congressman Meehan talks with Speaker of the House John Boehner in the National's dugout before the 52nd Annual Congressional Baseball Game. After the game, Congressman Meehan said, "It was a close, competitive and exciting game -- the Democrats won 22-0 -- and I enjoyed the chance to play with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to raise money for charities."

Congressman Meehan talks with students from the 7th district in Washington this week competing in the Junior Achievement Company of the Year Program.

Congratulations to Team StayHot!
I had the chance to meet a very talented group of students from the 7th district who were in Washington this week presenting at the Junior Achievement Company of the Year Program. Team "Stay Hot" won 2nd place for their business. They sold reusable coffee sleeves -- a unique product that cuts down on the waste of cardboard sleeves while keeping your beverage hot. Students from Haverford H.S., Henderson H.S., Conestoga H.S., and Upper Darby H.S. are part of the team. Read more about this impressive company here: http://www.stayhot.org

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