College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005

COLLEGE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - March 30, 2006)

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, let me, first of all, thank the gentleman from California for yielding.

You know, I have listened to this debate for the last several days, and even several weeks. And how you can take $12 billion out of the pot and then tell us that you are going to expand and increase student aid, I just can't reconcile that. I just don't know how to reconcile that kind of language.

But I do stand in strong support of the Miller-Kildee-Scott-Davis-Grijalva substitute because it cuts interest rates in half for the borrowers, for the students, those who need the money the most. It would make college affordable for large numbers of individuals who otherwise will never see the light of day. But it also would establish programs for individuals who are missing out already.

There is nothing more important than the opportunity to achieve some form of higher education, and, Mr. Chairman, I just had hoped that I was going to be able to vote for a bill that expanded opportunities. Unfortunately, this bill will not expand opportunities. Therefore, I will have to vote against it and urge that we vote in favor of the Miller substitute.

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