WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) provided the following statement regarding the potential layoff of about 100 employees from the Sallie Mae facility in Hanover Township.  He met today with officials from Sallie Mae and has had continuing discussions with the U.S. Department of Education and the Administration about how to try to keep the jobs in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

"I am disappointed that Sallie Mae has decided to cut jobs at their servicing center in Northeastern Pennsylvania even though it will continue to service loans at the facility and nationwide," said Congressman Kanjorski.  "I am closely working with Sallie Mae, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Administration as they work through the expansion of the direct lending program, and to help keep the Sallie Mae jobs in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Since I began my service in Congress, I have worked first and foremost to create jobs in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and I will continue to do everything that I can to help keep jobs in our communities."

Click here to view Congressman Kanjorski's statement for the Congressional Record on the health care reform legislation.  In it, he states that he was, "greatly disturbed when the student loan legislation was hastily attached to the health care reform bill at the last minute because of the impact it would have on the 1,100 Sallie Mae workers in my district...Education Secretary Arne Duncan assured me that he will use all of the tools at his disposal to help ensure that these workers will remain employed." 

Congressman Kanjorski voted against H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, which passed the House in September 2009.  Click here to view his statement on H.R. 3221. 

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