Politics
Congress sends student loan and transportation package to Obama
Friday, June 29, 2012
African American graduates. PHOTO/File
Congress ended months of partisan bickering on Friday by passing and sending to President Barack Obama a comprehensive extension of highway and infrastructure projects, along with a one-year extension of low student loan rates that were set to double.
The House voted 373 to 52 to approve a US$120 billion, 27-month bill to fund highway projects. Attached to that bill was the student loan extension, which prevented rates from doubling from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1.
(More: President Obama student loan plan ends Saturday)
The Senate approved the package shortly thereafter in a 74-19 vote. The legislation now heads to the White House for President Obama’s signature.
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