Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Howard Berman issued the following statement after the Senate and House approved a bipartisan Surface Transportation Authorization Bill that prevents college student loan interest rates from doubling and creates or saves nearly three million transportation and construction jobs.
“This is a victory for college students and their families who cannot afford a dramatic increase in their student loan rate. Our economic recovery and effort to create jobs cannot be held hostage to partisan bickering. College students and recent graduates play a vital role in jumpstarting our economy; they require our support and should not be punished for government inaction. Thanks to this compromise, middle class transportation and construction jobs will not fall victim to a legislative battle that hurts our communities. For Los Angeles, this legislation is a major step forward for the Mayor’s “30-10” Plan accelerating construction of transit programs in ten years. In our city and throughout our neighborhoods, transportation jobs translate into economic growth and these efforts must continue.”
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