[Page H8914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE REPUBLICAN STUDENT LOAN PLAN

  (Mr. CHAMBLISS asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, I could not believe what I heard from my 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle the other day. They were 
saying that the Republicans are wrecking education and destroying 
millions of Americans' future. This is an issue very near and dear to 
my heart. Both my wife and daughter are public school teachers, my 
children grew up in public schools, and I know how important education 
is to future generations.
  The problem is that President Clinton does not want to balance the 
budget. If he did, he would stop coming to Congress with his plans that 
only increase Government taking and Government spending. President 
Clinton believes in big government. In fact, he thinks the solution to 
our student loan problems is to convert the Department of Education 
into one of America's largest banks and the IRS into a loan collection 
agency. One thing I have come to learn in my short time in Washington 
is that the Federal Government has failed miserably as a lender of 
money.
  The Republicans balanced budget proposal does not cut a single 
student loan. In fact, more loans will be available next year than ever 
in the history of the program. This can be accomplished, not in the 
public, but the private sector.
  What is the Democrat alternative? Well, as usual, big Government.

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