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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted July 15, 2007 Press release and photo of Congressman Stupak © 2007 U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) and courtesy Alex Haurek, press secretary. Parade photo © 2007 Connie Julien and courtesy Anton Pintar. Reprinted with permission.

Stupak votes for bills on redeployment from Iraq, student aid 

Stupak votes for new direction in Iraq

On July 12 the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would begin to redeploy U.S. troops from Iraq within 120 days and to complete redeployment by April 1st of 2008. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) voted for the legislation.

"The Iraqi government has failed to satisfactorily meet any of the benchmarks that the President outlined in January, and basic issues such as how Iraqis will divide oil revenues or share power remain unresolved," Stupak said. "Meanwhile, our nation’s greatest resource, our young men and women, are caught in the middle of Iraq’s civil war." 

Stupak added the Iraqis' civil war can  be resolved only through political reconciliation, not through U.S. military intervention.

"Now in the fifth year of the war, having spent $450 billion, lost 3,600 American lives and seen 26,000 Americans wounded, the President is calling for more of the same. Members of Congress faced a simple choice today (July 12, 2007) of either voting to continue the President’s failed policy in Iraq or voting for a new direction. I once again voted for a new direction in Iraq that will bring our troops home!"

Stupak: Bill will help Michigan families pay for college

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation that would invest $18 billion in college financial aid, the single largest investment in college financial aid since the 1944 GI Bill. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) voted for the legislation, the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, saying the bill would help millions of Americans afford college and higher education.

"A solid education is absolutely vital to succeed in today’s economy, but each year the cost of a higher education keeps rising," Stupak said. "This legislation would help make college education more affordable for middle class families."

U.S. Representative Bart Stupak walks ahead of his car in the Copper Country Strawberry Festival Parade on July 6, 2007 in Chassell. Local Democrats also participated in the parade with a float that won first place in its division. (Photo © 2007 Connie Julien. Reprinted with permission.)

Under the legislation, the maximum value of the Pell Grant scholarship would increase by $500 over the next five years. When combined with other Pell Grant scholarship increases passed by the House, the maximum Pell Grant would reach $4,900 in 2008 and $5,200 in 2011. This would be an increase from the $4,050 that was the maximum for Pell Grants in 2006. About 6 million low and moderate-income students across America, including 200,000 students in Michigan, would benefit from this increase.

The legislation would also cut interest rates in half on need-based student loans, reducing the cost of those loans for millions of student borrowers. Like legislation passed by the House earlier this year, the College Cost Reduction Act would cut interest rates from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent in equal steps over the next five years. Once fully phased-in, this interest rate cut would save the typical student borrower $4,400. About 6.8 million students across the country, including 143,000 Michigan students, take out student loans each year. 

The bill would also authorize tuition assistance for undergraduate students who agree to teach in the nation’s public schools. Yet other provisions in the measure authorize loan forgiveness for college graduates that go into what Stupak called certain critical, needed public service professions.

"This bill will provide loan forgiveness for early childhood educators, first responders, law enforcement officers, firefighters, nurses, public defenders, prosecutors, librarians and others that choose professions that give back to their communities," Stupak noted.

The legislation pays for itself by reducing excessive federal subsidies paid to lenders in the college loan program by $19 billion. The bill also includes nearly $1 billion in federal budget deficit reduction. 

"We are hopeful that the Senate will take it up this month," Stupak said.

Editor's Notes: A recent address by Rep. Stupak from the floor of the House can be seen and heard in a video now available on his Web site. See also the July 10, 2007 article, "Calumet Township Receives $440,000 Loan for Water Infrastructure" on Stupak's Web site. Constituents can contact Congressman Stupak and his staff by calling toll-free 1-800-950-7371 or by emailing him at stupak@mail.house.gov. His Congressional Aide Amy Wisti may be reached in Houghton from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at (906) 482-1371. For Rep. Stupak's views on current issues, visit his Web site.