The Week Just Past: President and the Senate Stall on Student Loans

“The Young Will Not Buy Obamacare”

Frederick Douglass: Among the Greatest of Americans

Congressional Medal to Morristown High Student

Salute: Morris Mental Health, Col. Pete O’Hagan (USMC)

President Obama’s Berlin speech

President “Obama’s Carelessness” in the Middle East

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The Week Just Past: President and the Senate Stall on Student Loans

“A new study indicates that that if a market-based rate had been applied to student loans, the average student in recent years could have saved up to $3,400 more than under the current Federal Direct Lending Program.

“If you will recall, the House passed a bill recently that not only prevents rates from doubling on July 1 but also returns to a market based system for calculating student loan interest rates. 

“However, the threat of doubled rates looms larger today because the Senate has failed to pass any bill and the President has refused to weigh in on behalf of students and their families. 

“This week, I joined a group of bipartisan House members in writing to Senate Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, urging them to act.  We recognize that the student loan interest rate cliff is now less than two weeks away, which will affect millions of students across the country. Current and future students should not be subjected to partisan debate and uncertainty on their student loan interest rates year after year. Now is the time to act to ensure that every student has a fair shot at an affordable, world-class higher education.

“The House is ready, willing and able to work with the Senate and the President to prevent the interest rate from doubling for our neediest borrowers.

“There is definitely is a path for the House and Senate to approve a bipartisan long-term solution before July 1.  But the Senate needs to act!”

Rodney Frelinghuysen

For more information on the House-passed “Smarter Solutions for Students Act," click here.

Recommended Reading:Holman Jenkins, writing in the Wednesday the Wall Street Journal, “The Young Will Not Buy Obamacare, It makes scant financial sense for them to subsidize others' care.”

Frederick Douglass: Among the Greatest of Americans

Congress paused this week to honor a man who many people consider one of the greatest Americans who ever lived.  A statue depicting Frederick Douglass was dedicated on Wednesday in the Capitol complex.

Born into slavery in 1818; he self-educated, escaped captivity and became the voice of the anti-slavery movement. He wrote books, started a newspaper and eventually became the first African-American to have his name placed into nomination for President of the United States.

His message was timeless: the hard work of justice and equality is not done and that anything is achievable through struggle and hard work.

Frederick Douglass is now the fourth African American to be represented in the Capitol’s collection, joining a statue of Rosa Parks and busts of Martin Luther King Jr. and Sojourner Truth. The Douglass statue will be on permanent display in Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitors Center.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.speaker.gov/frederickdouglass/?ref=home

Congressional Medal to Morristown High Student

Rodney presented the Congressional Award Gold Medal this week to Robert Brett Harvey, a student at Morristown High.  He received the award in a ceremony in the Cannon Caucus Room at the U.S. Capitol complex.  Each winner of the award spends two or more years finishing 400 hours of community service, 200 hours of personal development and physical fitness and a four night expedition.

“The Congressional Award program seeks to build character and foster community service, personal development, and citizenship for our nation's youth,” Rodney said.  “Brett’s personal contributions to Grow it Green Morristown and the Community Soup Kitchen clearly show that he fits these criteria.  I was pleased to be able to personally congratulate him on his accomplishments.

Chartered in 1979, the Congressional Award is the United States Congress' award for young Americans. It is non-partisan, voluntary, and non-competitive. The program is open to all 14- to 23-year-olds. Participants earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Medals. Each level involves setting goals in four program areas; Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.

Read more from the Morristown Green here.

Salute: Morris Mental Health, Col. Pete O’Hagan (USMC)

Salute: Mental Health Association of Morris County celebrates its 60^th Anniversary this year!  Rodney has been a member for over forty years and can attest to their advocacy in our community for mental health parity with other illnesses, deinstitutionalization, and housing opportunities.

Salute: Colonel Peter O'Hagan (ret), Marine and former mayor of Morris Township and Morris County Freeholder for his service for eighteen years on Rodney’s Military Academy Review Board.  Thanks, Pete, for your many contributions to your community and our nation!

Recommended Reading:Nile Gardiner, writing in the U.K. Telegraph, reviews President Obama’s Berlin speech.  Worth a read: important topics, historical location, but ‘lost opportunity from the leader of the free world!'

Recommended Reading:Richard Cohen’s piece in the Washington Post, “Obama’s Carelessness” reflects Rodney’s views on the latest crisis in the Middle East.  Read it here.

Rodney, and other members of the House Intelligence Committee, met with Secretary of State John Kerry and other senior Administration officials to clarify the President’s policy on Syria.

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