Joe Courtney

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Thank you, Congresswoman Jackson Lee. Again, just to follow up on one quick point, which is that there is legislation that is now pending in the House, H.R. 3826. A few minutes ago, we got our 146th cosponsor. To this date, though, we are still waiting for any Members on the majority side to join us in this effort. Again, 77 of them voted in 2007 to support this measure to cut the interest rates. It's time. It's time for them to listen to what their presumptive nominee is saying. It's time to join the Members on this side of the aisle and prevent the damage that this would do to middle class families. And no one knows that issue better than a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, who has, again, done great work in terms of education issues and higher education affordability. Congressman Davis, thank you for joining us here this evening.

Mr. COURTNEY. Thank you, Mr. Clarke. In closing, I just want to end where we began, which is that it's 67 days and counting. Today, all across America, there are high school seniors who are experiencing probably one of the most exciting moments in their lives, which is that they're going to the mailbox to find out whether or not they've been accepted to a 2-year school or a 4-year school. I remember those days. I have a son who just finished up college--and remember how exciting that was--and a daughter who's in high school and who's hopefully going to hear soon when her turn comes. But the fact of the matter is they need to have some horizon, some predictability at this critical moment to make sure that they can plan and budget to pay for college. Financial Aid offices all across the country are putting up warning flags for students and their families that interest rates are going to double unless Congress acts. And the fact of the matter is that creates an instability about planning for what college to go to, what kind of budget a family can really accommodate in terms of paying for student loan debt. And that's wrong. I mean, we can do better than that as a Congress. We can do better than that as a Nation. Again, we're glad to see that Mr. Romney finally came around, even though he had sent out signals in opposition to this type of approach by supporting the Ryan budget which locks in the 6.8 percent interest rate. But you know what, this issue is too important to get sucked into sort of partisanship here. It is time to move forward, just like we did in 2007, when 77 Republicans voted in favor of the College Cost Reduction Act; 35 Republican Senators supported it. President George Bush signed it into law, a program named after Republican Senator Robert Stafford from Vermont. I mean, come on. You know, people are sick and tired of the fact that every single issue, whether it's a highway bill, a payroll tax cut extension, or education assistance for middle class families gets sucked into this partisan maelstrom in Washington, DC. And the fact of the matter is there's 146 Members on our side that have cosponsored H.R. 3826 that are looking for a signal from the Republican majority to say, you know what, it's time to look at our history. It's time to look at the genealogy of the Stafford student loan program and the great bipartisan support to cut those rates 5 years ago. Let's come up with a solution. Let's move. Let's help those families whose students are being accepted into college and those financial aid offices that are trying to help families budget and plan for the next academic school year. Sixty-seven days is really not enough time, even today, but we should at least not compound it by delay and, hopefully, not compound it by letting just a totally unacceptable increase in interest rates for Stafford student loans to go into effect. And I look forward to working with you, again, in the next hours and minutes and days to make sure that that doesn't happen. Thank you for joining me here, Congressman Clarke. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Well, again, I think you are going to have a really powerful event when you do that. Again, I think the media who have been covering this issue, in many instances they either have children in college or they themselves are still carrying student-loan debt. This issue touches really just a huge cross-section of the country. To say and to point out the fact which, again, a lot of people aren't aware of, interest rates are going to double on July 1 from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent unless Congress acts. Again, it is something that people just can't even comprehend the fact that at this moment in the economy, when interest rates are so much lower across the board, that this one segment, college students, particularly entering college students, kids who are in high school today, frankly, have almost as much, if not more, at stake than kids who are presently enrolled in college to make sure that this place hears their voices and listens and, most importantly, acts to avoid this totally unwarranted increase in college borrowing costs from a program which has a proud bipartisan history. Thank you both for joining me here this evening. I look forward to getting a bill signing soon to protect these interest rates. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COURTNEY. I thank the gentleman. Again, someone who's been a leader on this issue, first sponsor after we introduced the bill is Congressman Gary Peters from Michigan, so we're not all from New England and New York on the floor here this evening because this is a national issue; and thank you for joining us, Congressman Peters.

Mr. COURTNEY. Thank you, Congressman Cicilline. And I'm glad you mentioned Senator Reid. Actually, we had an event in front of the Capitol a couple of weeks ago where Public Interest Research Group dropped off 130,000 petition signatures from college campuses all across America, and they are going to go out and get even more because, as I said, 15 million college students benefited from that rate cut in 2007; 8 million will be impacted if we do nothing with higher interest rates. Someone who can speak on this issue as knowledgeably as almost anyone, literally, in the House or Senate, in the U.S. Congress is Congressman Bishop, again, my neighbor across Long Island Sound in the State of New York. Again, thank you for joining us here tonight, Tim, and I yield to your comments.

Mr. COURTNEY. Again, a true college administrator.

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to spend some time on the floor this evening. I will be joined by other colleagues, we anticipate, to talk about an issue which is front and center for millions of families all across the country. As my poster next to me indicates, there is actually a very critical deadline that's approaching this country in terms of the issue of higher education affordability, about helping families pay for college, one of the biggest challenges that middle class families face today. Back in 2007, Congress made a very positive, progressive move when it enacted the College Cost Reduction Act, a measure which addressed issues that had been long neglected by prior Congresses in terms of helping students and families pay for college. The College Cost Reduction Act, in particular, took aim at the Stafford student loan program, a loan program that helps lower-income and middle-income students pay for college. It's a program which has been on the books since the 1960s; but over the late 1990s into the early 2000s, the interest rate in the Stafford student loan program had fluttered upwards to 6.8 percent, almost the same levels at what private banks were offering for student loans. The College Cost Reduction Act in 2007 correctly moved forward to cut the interest rate for that program to make it more affordable for students, again, who are facing ever rising tuition increases in both public and private universities and colleges--2-year programs, you name it--all across the country. As a result of that measure, which passed by a bipartisan vote in this House--we had 77 Republicans who joined the Democratic majority that was in control at that time--it was sent to the Senate. Approximately two dozen Republicans voted in favor of the Stafford student loan program, and it was sent to President Bush, who signed it into law. That measure has helped 15 million students with lower interest rate costs pay for college. That measure was sunset. It had an expiration date of July 1, 2012. As my poster indicates, that's a date which, today, is 73 days away for families and students who today are trying to budget for next year's school year. That deadline will, in effect, return the interest rate back to where it was back in 2007. It will double the interest rate from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent unless Congress acts. President Obama, during his State of the Union Address, alerted this Congress and the Nation to the fact that at a time when student loan debt now exceeds credit card debt and car debt, we must, as a Congress, move quickly to make sure that we lock in that rate at 3.4 percent; otherwise, students who use this program, it's been calculated, will have added debt levels of between $5,000 and $10,000. Now, in terms of the stakes that exist right now for what that means, this chart--which is from a figure that was produced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York--shows again, vividly, the challenge that we face as a Nation, that student loan debt now, as I mentioned earlier, exceeds credit card debt. It exceeds car loan debt. For many families, particularly if you're talking about going to a 4-year private college, it literally is like buying a house to try and figure out ways to pay for college. So if we do not act, if we do not lock in that lower rate of 3.4 percent between now and July 1--the 73-day deadline that we face, literally, as we stand here today--we will, in fact, compound that bar graph which shows, again, rising debt levels for students who are trying to pay for college. The stakes could not be bigger for our Nation. Back in the 1980s, America was number one in terms of graduation rates across the world. Today, the national College Board--which tracks this data and has been doing it for decades--reports to us that the U.S. now ranks 12th in the world in terms of graduation rates. That is a dynamic for mediocrity. That is a dynamic that says that our country is not going to be able to produce the workforce that we need for the future in terms of facing all the technological challenges, all the competitive challenges that we face as a Nation. We here in Congress have that power within our hands to at least avoid worsening the situation that, again, has now, in my opinion, reached epidemic, critical proportions in terms of this country's capacity to refresh its workforce. The Republican majority has leadership which recently talked about this issue. The chairwoman of the Higher Education Subcommittee, when asked last week on a radio program about the issue of student loan debt, basically stated very clearly that she has very little tolerance for people who tell her that they graduate with $200,000 of debt or even $80,000 of debt because there's no reason for that. Well, this morning's Wall Street Journal had a very long story about a couple who are exactly in this predicament, where they are carrying $74,000 of student loan debt, making monthly payments of approximately $900 a month. The headline basically is that student loan debt is deferring marriage and children for young people. Frankly, that is an issue which is being compounded in terms of young people being able to go out and look for work and not be haunted or burdened--almost smothered and buried--by student loan debt. That affects the vitality of our economy. It affects, really, the career path of many of our young people who, at that point in life, really should be maximizing their attempts to really experiment and to innovate and to be, again, the leaders of a new generation in terms of taking this country to new heights. This is a sad statement of the priorities of the majority that's controlling this Congress, which, again, at a point where we literally have before us in 73 days a choice to make in terms of whether or not we are going to avoid this explosion in interest rates, we have a leadership which basically says they have no sympathy or tolerance. You know, as we're sitting here tonight, Capitol Hill is being visited in Members' offices hour after hour by organizations like dental students, nursing students, folks who, again, are very excited about starting their careers and have issues about policy that we're taking up here in their different professions. In each instance, when you asked a dental student, ``Well, what kind of student loan debt do you have?'' or a nurse anesthetist, ``What kind of student loan do you have?''--and they were in my office a couple days ago--in every instance, their debt levels exceeded the levels that the chairwoman of the Higher Education Subcommittee was talking about. We need a Congress which is not out of touch with middle class families and young people in this country. We need a Congress which is ready to move forward with the need to lock in that lower interest rate so that, again, we do not compound this problem of student loan debt skyrocketing in increases. There is legislation which is pending, H.R. 3826, a measure which I introduced, and now we have over 120 cosponsors in the House Democratic Caucus--I'm joined here this evening by some of the folks who have joined in that effort--that would lock in that rate, that would say that, You know what? This is a priority that really matters in terms of the future of this country, which is to invest in young people, to help middle class families deal with, again, probably as big a challenge as either buying a home or trying to save and prepare for retirement. For us, at a time when the Federal Reserve is lending money almost for free, when home mortgage interest rates are about 3.1 percent for a 30-year mortgage and even lower for a variable rate, to say that we are going to stand here and turn our backs and allow interest rates for the Stafford student loan program--one of the workhorse, bedrock programs for middle class families to pay for college--to go from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent is unconscionable. It is unforgivable. We cannot let this happen. Here this evening on the floor I've been joined by some Members who agree and have been working hard on this issue back home, getting the word out in their States, and also have cosponsored this legislation and have joined us to talk a little bit about this issue from their perspective. Congressman Cicilline from Rhode Island was here first, and I am pleased to yield to my neighbor from Rhode Island. Thank you, sir, for joining us here this evening.

Mr. COURTNEY. I can give a local example of an employer in our area, which Mr. Cicilline knows well--and so do you, Tim--which is Electric Boat, which has a new design project where they're going to be hiring about 300-plus new engineers and draftsmen. They are scouring the countryside trying to find mechanical engineers. Again, these are high-value jobs. The fact of the matter is that it's a struggle out there to get these folks with hard science degrees for, again, really good openings that exist in our economy right now. They're going to get there. There is no question that's going to happen. The fact of the matter is that opportunities like that are going to definitely continue to grow as this economy heals and recovers. We want to make sure these young people, again, have not been discouraged from having that chance to take hold of that opportunity when that time comes because of really just the indifference of this body to deal with an issue which, again, just goes to the heart of creating opportunity. This chart, sadly, when we started it, it was 75 days when the rate was going to go up. Obviously, yesterday, it was 74, today is 73. We are going to continue to make sure that this countdown clock is front and center before the people of this country so that they know that here in this body we have control of this issue, direct control of this issue. Many other issues are so complex and affect a small part of the economy and the country. This is a broad-based issue that affects 8 million college students across America that we have a set deadline. Either we do it or we don't and, again, this colloquy this evening, again, I think is going to be part of the effort to build the noise to make sure that we do it.

Mr. COURTNEY. Congressman Bishop was around before the 2006 election and was there when we passed the 2007 College Cost Reduction Act. I believe, frankly, that it is because there was an unprecedented boost in involvement by young people. The 18- to 29-year-old voter turnout in 2006 was a historic high for a midterm election. Frankly, it did slip in the last cycle. When I'm out at the University of Connecticut or other State universities in higher education, I tell that story about how in 2006, the issue of higher education was front and center. It was an issue that was a national issue in the 2006 campaign that we put forward to cut the interest rate. And frankly, I think the power of that issue and the message of that election from young voters turning out in record numbers basically kind of shook this place up, and people recognized that they've got to start doing something for higher education. I think in 2010, there was a bit of a slip and this issue kind of lost focus. Again, I think as we get closer to this incredible doubling of interest rates on July 1--when I talk to people back home when I've done a number of events like you and others have, people greet that with absolute disbelief because they know how mortgage interest rates are, they see what banks are getting from the Federal Reserve, they see what the Treasury bonds are selling for. To say that this one segment of the economy--college students--is going to have a 6.8 percent rate in terms of a loan program is totally unacceptable. That's why, I think, this event we're doing here this evening--and certainly the efforts from PIRG with 130,000 petition signatures--is a way, again, that we can shake this place up again and avoid this catastrophe.

Mr. COURTNEY. Just for our viewers, FTE is an acronym.

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Peters, as to your comment about why this should not be a partisan issue, I just want to reiterate the fact that when we cut the rate back in 2007, 77 Republicans in the House voted with the Democratic majority to implement that law, and there were over two dozen Republican Senators in the Senate who voted for it. George W. Bush signed it into law. Ironically, the Stafford student loan program, which we've talked about a lot here this evening--and a lot of people are familiar with it, but some, I think, would be interested to know--was named after a Republican Senator, Robert Stafford from Vermont, who was a passionate advocate for education just like Senator Pell from Rhode Island was. This, again, used to be an issue that was nonpartisan totally. Abraham Lincoln was the force that started land-grant colleges in the middle of the Civil War. I mean, it's amazing to think about that, that he just had such vision during the worst conflict in American history to say, you know, we still need to be investing in the future of this country and so started the land-grant process. Stafford from Vermont was another guy who certainly represented a party that, at that time, would have easily understood the fact that we cannot create new barriers at a time when historic levels of debt are rising to a point which exceed credit card debt and student loan debt. Mr. Bishop, in your experience as a college administrator, you know. I mean, we are now in late April, and kids are literally getting notices from colleges in their mailboxes today. People are going to have to start planning in terms of how to pay for college. Again, notices are already being sent out to people, saying, you know, you may or may not have this rate right now. So it's changing family decisions literally by the inaction. Frankly, we should not have to wait 73 days. We should do this this week. We shouldn't go home until this gets done, because families need to have some horizon in terms of planning a decision that literally is almost as big as buying a house. Then I know, Mr. Cicilline, you were up on your feet, and I just want to keep contact.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment as the lead cosponsor with Mr. Boustany of the RAMP Act, H.R. 104, that had approximately over 150 cosponsors on both sides of the aisle, people from all corners of the country. This really should be a measure that we should move forward on and fully fund, as well as with the language that, again, Mr. Boustany crafted to offer here today. There, frankly, are other reasons why we called that bill the Restore America's Maritime Promise Act, which is that again we're a great maritime Nation. In fact, our national defense requires having a strong Navy that can navigate all along the coast. And where I'm from, up in the State of Connecticut, the Groton sub base needs to be dredged out year in and year out. But just like everybody else, it depends on the kindness of the Army Corps of Engineers. This is really a priority that obviously, as others have said, affects our economy, our exports, and also our national defense, and we should support this measure. Again, I applaud the gentleman for bringing it forward.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate David Ignatowicz, Arnie Bevins, and the entire staff of the Town of Vernon Water Pollution Control Facility on their outstanding work on wastewater treatment. Covering Vernon, Ellington, Tolland, and parts of South Windsor and Manchester, the Connecticut facility is the first of its kind with a full-scale powdered activated carbon treatment and wet-air carbon regeneration system. The unique wastewater utility has maintained an outstanding performance and customer satisfaction record for over 30 years, processing wastewater from over 122 miles of sewers and seven pump stations. With 20 dedicated individuals serving 66,000 Connecticut residents, the Vernon plant team has made certain that the water discharged from this facility is excellent in quality. Recognizing the outstanding work of the Town of Vernon Water Pollution Control Facility, the New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) named the facility the Wastewater Utility of the Year for 2010. Given annually, the NEWEA's Wastewater Utility of the Year award recognizes a regional utility for exceptional management, maintenance, and performance. The award, given to a facility located within six Northeastern States, is based on marks in 18 different areas to highlight overall excellence in utility operations. Having received top marks in each of these 18 areas, the Town of Vernon Water Pollution Control Facility proved to be more than deserving of this prestigious award. Water Pollution Control Facilities like the Town of Vernon's are vital to the health of our communities and our ecosystems. Their innovative processes, forward thinking, and hardworking staff have helped to ensure that the discharged water is of the best possible quality. Mr. Ignatowicz, Mr. Bevins, and the entire Town of Vernon Water Pollution Control Facility team are a true asset to our state and our region, and I congratulate them on their exceptional work and well deserved recognition.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, unless this Congress acts, in 75 days, the interest rate for the Stafford student loan program will explode for 8 million college students. Unless Congress acts, the rate will jump from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. At a time when student loan debt now exceeds credit card debt, added interest costs for a student using Stafford will increase between $5,000 and $10,000. It is unconscionable that the Republican leadership will not bring up H.R. 3826, a bill I've introduced with 119 cosponsors to lock in the lower rate. Incredibly, the chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education spoke last week in North Carolina and said: I have very little tolerance for people who tell me they graduate with $200,000 of debt or even $80,000 of debt. Really? It is a sad statement when today's Republican Party turns its back on a program that helps millions of Americans fulfill their dreams and that is named after Republican Senator Robert Stafford of Vermont. Stop the rate hike. Bring up H.R. 3826 for a vote, and keep the American Dream alive for millions of college students.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Chair, since 1965, Medicare has provided seniors guaranteed health benefits and today, close to 50 million Americans who have paid into the system now rely on the program for care. While the program's sustainability is stronger than in recent past, this Congress, like those before it, has an obligation to ensure sustainability of the program for current enrollees and future beneficiaries. The Independent Payment Advisory Board, IPAB, was created with this objective in mind. However, despite best intentions, I believe that IPAB is the wrong approach to achieve this shared goal. Relinquishing control of Medicare provider reimbursements to an unelected IPAB is problematic to me for a number of reasons. Congress has helped shape a Medicare system that reflects unique care needs of varying demographics as well as differences between regions and states. Further, this system has been developed with transparency and accountability in congressional debates. Implementing IPAB would limit the strengths of the current system, and would continue a trend of ceding congressional authority to the Executive branch. This is, in part, why I cosponsored the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act, H.R. 452, legislation to repeal IPAB. The fact is that the Affordable Care Act will contain spending growth in the Medicare program--independent of proposed IPAB reforms--through integrated and coordinated care models and modest reimbursement changes. The Congressional Budget Office, CBO, estimates that the law will slow annual Medicare growth from seven to four percent over the next decade. And, over the past year, the S&P has measured the lowest rate of growth in the history of Medicare--below three percent. Today, the House considered legislation to repeal IPAB, a goal that I support. Unfortunately, a calculated choice to polarize the vote by incorporating the HEALTH Act (H.R. 5)--an unrelated and divisive bill-- emphasizes the cynical gamesmanship of Republican leadership who clearly are not interested in forging a partisan coalition to repeal IPAB. The HEALTH Act, in part, limits intentional torts or cases where harm is deliberate. A recent case in Connecticut, which involved victims of sexual assault, underscores the harm in these restrictions. Under H.R. 5, these victims would be denied their day in court. Over the next ten years, Medicare will cost between $8 trillion and $9 trillion and there are a whole host of offsets which would easily counter the costs of IPAB repeal without injecting scorched earth partisan politics. For example, MedPAC has recommended rescinding duplicative bonus payments to private insurance providers that administer Medicare Advantage plans, which have historically been overpaid by 14 percent. At the very least, this option provides a more tempered approach to offset H.R. 452 and build an honest consensus on repealing IPAB. Despite my long-standing support for the repeal of IPAB, I cannot support H.R. 5 as presented to the House today. It is my sincere hope that this chamber can debate the repeal of IPAB through a more measured, balanced, and reasonable approach in the future.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 568, a bipartisan resolution reaffirming U.S. resolve to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability. I co-sponsored this resolution because of the critical importance to U.S. national security and regional stability to deny Iranian nuclear weapon capability through every diplomatic tool and pressure to avoid resorting to military force. Reports of progress in Iran's nuclear program have been disconcerting. The November 2011 International Atomic Energy Agency report presented ``serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme'' and asserted that ``Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device.'' There would be devastating consequences for a nation that has threatened Israel's existence and poses significant security threats to its neighbors to acquire nuclear weapons. As President Obama said during his January 24, 2012 State of the Union Address, ``Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.'' Since I entered Congress in 2007, I have stood firmly against nuclear proliferation to Iran. In 2010, I co-sponsored and supported through passage the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act, which enacted sanctions against companies investing in Iran's energy sector. In addition, I am a cosponsor of legislation to expand sanctions against Iran, the Iran Threat Reduction Act (H.R. 1905). It has been under President Obama's leadership and reinvigorated cooperation with allies and other nations that has ramped up the pressure to deny Iran weapons capability. President Obama entered office with the international effort to challenge Iran divided and in shambles. Immediately, the President rallied the international community to apply pressure in conjunction with the United States as a diplomatic force multiplier. Russia and China joined in a 2010 the U.N. Security Council comprehensive sanctions effort. These sanctions slowed the Iranian nuclear program and have levied damaging effects on the Iranian economy. The coalition held as we expanded a sanctions offensive against Iran's Central Bank and their oil exports. These efforts make it clear that Iran must change its recent behavior and instead fulfill its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The longer it takes Iran to change its course, the further cut- off it will grow diplomatically and the more strangled its economy will become. Now we must expand these efforts to increase sanctions, further isolate Iran, and explore every outlet to undermine the Iranian regime politically and seek real change in that country's leadership and political direction. This resolution communicates Congressional unity with the Administration and determination to the international community to maximize every diplomatic and economic tool available to pressure and deny Iran nuclear weapon capability. To be clear, other options--such as the use of United States military force against Iran--require the deliberate and thoughtful consideration of this Congress, a power which I believe this resolution clearly preserves. I am co-sponsoring this resolution to continue our nation's effective, ratcheting pressure to force Iran on a new path and to avoid a subsequent request from the Administration some day to authorize the use of military force against Iran.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, this week the National Women's Law Center issued a report, an online survey of insurance brokers across the country; and what they found is something that every woman who owns a small business or tries to buy a policy on the individual market knows, which is that 90 percent of the best selling insurance plans charge women more than men simply because of the fact that they are women. This is a fact which is not denied by any of the major insurers--Blue Cross, WellPoint, Humana--which were all interviewed in a story in The New York Times a few days ago on this issue. This is not a debating point; this is a fact. In addition to higher costs, many insurance companies in some jurisdictions around this country deny women coverage entirely because of conditions which are characteristic of women, which is breast or cervical cancer, pregnancy, having a C-section, or even being a victim of domestic violence. As I said earlier, the Affordable Care Act will abolish all of these barbaric discriminatory practices starting in 2014. We are going to hear a lot of hooting and hollering this week about repealing ObamaCare, but those people who say that should look women in the eye in this country and tell them what you are going to do to end these discriminatory practices. The fact of the matter is they have no answer. It is time to stand up for this act.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my heartiest congratulations and thanks to Patricia Smith of Lebanon for her more than three decades of service to farmers in eastern Connecticut. This past December, Pat retired after 31 years of working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency's Connecticut office. After graduating from Norwich Free Academy, Pat began working at the Groton Sub Base. She later worked in Boston at the Naval Shipyards, a rural letter carrier in Lebanon, Connecticut and also at the Social Security office in Willimantic, Connecticut. Always a dedicated public servant, Pat worked hard to serve the people of eastern Connecticut in her various capacities. In 1980, Pat was hired by current Connecticut Farm Service Agency Executive Director Marsha Jette to serve as a Program Technician assisting farmers in eastern Connecticut. Pat's experience as a herdswoman on her brother Nathan R. Cushman's farm gave her the hands-on experience she needed to provide dedicated and timely service to her fellow farmers. At the time she began working for USDA in 1980, Pat also milked 16 20 Brown Swiss cows that she kept at her residence that belonged to her and her daughter Julie who was actively involved in the 4 H program. Pat's dedication to her work never wavered despite the challenging times dairy farmers and others in Connecticut faced during her three decades at USDA. While Pat's retirement has left a void that will not easily be filled at the Farm Service Agency office, she continues her service through volunteer efforts at the New London County Farm Service Agency office. Always the dedicated public servant, Pat Smith's experience and care for her fellow farmers will be sorely missed as she moves from full time work to volunteering for farmers in Connecticut. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Pat on her retirement and wish her well in her continued efforts.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, 124 days. That's how many days between today and July 1 when the interest rates for the Stafford Student Loan program are going to double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent unless Congress acts. I, Congressman Peters, and Senator Jack Reed in the Senate have filed legislation to lock in those rates at 3.4 percent. This Chamber must act. Today, student loan debt now exceeds credit card debt in the United States of America--a milestone which is a disaster and a formula for failure in this country. We have fallen from number one in the world in terms of graduation rates to number 12, which is a threat in terms of our future economic vitality. As young people will be all across this Capitol over the next 2 months or so, I hope Members of Congress will look those kids in the eyes and will do the right thing to protect college affordability. Pass H.R. 3826.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Connecticut's Child Advocate, Jeanne Milstein, and celebrate her years of service to the State and, more importantly, to Connecticut's children and their families. For over a decade, Jeanne has headed the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), which oversees the protection and care of the State's most vulnerable children. Under Jeanne's leadership, the OCA has reviewed and acted on thousands of requests for assistance ranging from safety and health to education. Most recently, the OCA participated in the Children and Recession Task Force, leading an effort on transitioning young adults leaving the care of the state Department of Children and Families. OCA has also led oversight on children in congregate care settings and transitional supports for confined youth. Beyond overseeing the care and protection of Connecticut's children, Jeanne and the OCA have been fierce watchdogs of taxpayer resources. Jeanne's hard work and dedication have been an invaluable resource for Connecticut and should serve as an example for all those in public service. Again, I ask that my colleagues join me in applauding Jeanne's service and recognizing her retirement.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I voted in favor of the conference agreement on the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 because I believe it is necessary for our nation's continued economic recovery, which still remains fragile. Economists of every stripe have endorsed the three major components of the bill which will provide some additional confidence for both consumers and business. However, I have serious concerns about parts of the compromise, chiefly the lack of a permanent repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula and the funding sources for the ten-month SGR ``patch.'' Medicare cuts to community hospitals and skilled nursing facilities included in the compromise threaten the already thin financial margins these institutions are operating on. Also included in the compromise is the elimination of $5 billion from the Prevention and Public Health Fund created by the Affordable Care Act. These cuts will stifle progress on disease prevention which in the long-term is the best way to reduce health care spending. And, the fact that these programs will be cut to pay for a short term fix of a broken SGR formula that was passed into law nearly two decades ago and has proven to be totally infeasible, is particularly galling. While the window of opportunity to repeal the SGR permanently in this package has passed for now, Congress still has an obligation to enact a permanent fix to this flawed policy when the ten-month fix expires. We know now that the longer a permanent fix is delayed, the more precarious our system of care for seniors and veterans will become. On a positive note, growing bipartisan, bicameral support for abolishing the SGR is building, paid for with savings from the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funds. The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed these funds are available which provides a promising opportunity in the coming months to repeal the SGR finally once and for all. Fixing this long standing problem must be a bipartisan priority for this Congress. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle towards a permanent solution to the SGR that gives our doctors, seniors and veterans the long term certainty they need-- and deserve--in their care.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, 2011 marked an unfortunate milestone in our country's financial picture when, for the first time in American history, student loan debt actually exceeded credit card debt, which again by itself is just a huge statement in terms of the challenges that families, middle class families and working families, are facing today in terms of trying to deal with the cost of higher education. The value of a higher education degree or post-high school degree, which is sometimes debated in the media, still I believe is indisputable, and the statistics certainly demonstrate that. At a time when our national unemployment rate is 8.3 percent, if you drill down deeper you'll learn that for those with less than a high school degree, the unemployment rate is 16.5 percent. Those with a high school degree, it's 10.7 percent. Those with some college is 8.5 percent, and those with a bachelor's degree or higher is 4.5 percent. So the stakes could not be higher for young people all across our country that we must deal with the mounting cost of higher education and provide mechanisms for them and their families to actually finance it and pay for it. In 2007, the Democratic-controlled Congress passed the College Cost Reduction Act, which was a terrific measure that cut the interest rates for the Stafford Student Loan program, the federally subsidized student loan program which provided some stability and affordability for middle class families, from 6.8 percent down to 3.4 percent. In addition, we unfroze the Pell Grant program, which is the workhorse of paying for college education, all of it paid for by eliminating wasteful subsidies to banks. That measure has a sunset this July. The interest rate reduction of the College Cost Reduction Act will in fact expire on July 1 unless Congress acts. President Obama in his State of the Union Address a few nights ago raised this issue before all of us in the House and Senate when he said: ``When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of college. At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling in July.'' Mr. Speaker, shortly after his address, myself and Congressman Peters from Michigan introduced H.R. 3826, which is a measure that would extend the 3.4 percent, the lower interest rates on the Stafford Student Loan program, and in just a few days we have accumulated 55 cosponsors to this measure. Again, the math is crystal clear: If we do not act, if we do not maintain those interest rates at 3.4 percent, if Congress does nothing, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group has calculated that for those students who take out the maximum $23,000 in subsidized student loans, their interest payments will increase by $5,200 over a 10-year repayment period and $11,300 over a 20-year repayment period. Now, if you told middle class families that if Congress doesn't act on a measure like this, your out-of-pocket costs are going to go up $5,200 for taxes, there would be a huge hue and cry about the fact that Congress must not let that happen. Well, that's exactly the same situation we face today with the Stafford Student Loan program. Again, we know from the passage of the College Cost Reduction Act that this is something that this body is capable of doing. This past weekend I was with a family whose son is now in his junior year, and as an undergraduate has almost a perfect 4.0 grade average, very motivated to go into the health care field, and he has already accumulated $100,000 in student loan debt. We as a Nation must address this problem. The National College Board, which tracks graduation rates internationally, reminds us that back in the 1980s, the U.S. was number one in the world in terms of graduation rates. We have fallen to number 12 according to the National College Board, and the biggest reason that students are not finishing college is because of affordability and cost. Again, the President laid out the challenge to the Congress in his State of the Union Address. We must not allow Stafford Student Loan interest rates to double on July 1. We should pass H.R. 3826. We should get that to the President so that colleges and universities can help families plan their tuition payments for the upcoming year and not allow this country to go backwards in terms of making sure that we have the finest workforce in the world.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, last Friday the Department of Labor came out with job statistics which no one expected. The U.S. economy added 243,000 new jobs, and there was a revision upward for December and November across the board: manufacturing, service, leisure, service industries, health care. The U.S. economy, which has suffered its biggest blow since the Depression because of the financial meltdown in 2008, is picking up strength. But as the President said, Congress must not muck it up. We need to pass the payroll tax cut extension, which expires at the end of February, fix the doctors' fees, and do an unemployment compensation. If we don't do that, the markets are going to head south on us again, just like they did last December. This Congress wasted the entire month of January with no conference committee to resolve this issue. It is time that we fix this and get it done right away, and we shouldn't go home this weekend until we pass a payroll tax cut extension.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, for decades the United States has worked closely with Australia on issues of great importance to our two nations. Australia has stood out among the international community as a friend of the United States and remains one of our closest allies today. Thirteen years ago, a program was launched to place Australian students in offices in our Nation's Capital. Since that time, the Uni- Capitol Washington Internship Program has delivered to the United States some of Australia's best and brightest to serve as interns in a variety of federal agencies, congressional offices and committees. When the opportunity arose again to participate in the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program, I immediately agreed to welcome another Australian ``ambassador.'' This is my third time hosting an intern from the program, and once again my office and I have been pleased with the positive contributions of Niall O'Shea, who was placed in our office. He has attended meetings and briefings, assisted my staff with various research initiatives, and helped serve my constituents of the Second District of Connecticut. His impeccable and clipped Australian accent is a real treat for visitors and callers from Connecticut whom he has interacted with. Niall's participation in this program has provided him with new opportunities and experiences that only the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program could provide. While in the program Niall has attended events at the Australian Embassy and listened to speakers from the State Department. A well-rounded college student, Niall will be receiving a dual Bachelor degree in law and art when he graduates from the University of Western Australia. Many of my colleagues have also been privileged to welcome students like Niall to their offices. This year, 12 students from all across Australia are serving in offices in Washington, helping foster a new generation of understanding and shared experiences between our two nations. Launched by former Congressional staffer Eric Federing, The Uni-Capitol Washington Internship program has now delivered 130 Australian student interns over the past 13 years. Mr. Speaker, I would encourage all of my colleagues to open their doors to students from around the world so that they can share in our great democracy. Similarly, I would encourage American university students to seek established and creative ways to connect with their counterparts around the globe. I ask my colleagues to join with me in recognizing the contributions of the Uni-Capitol Internship Program and to once more thank Niall O'Shea for his dedication and hard work.