WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) provided the following statement to explain his vote against H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009.

"Currently, students have the option to choose between private and public lenders, and I am a firm believer that such choice and competition among lenders is the best proven method for reducing costs and improving services.  By omitting private lenders, we would create a monopoly within the federal government regarding student loans. 

"Additionally, in April, I joined Sallie Mae CEO AL Lord to announce the return of 600 jobs from overseas to Sallie Mae's lending facility in Hanover Industrial Park, almost doubling the number of employees at Sallie Mae in the region, and I will continue to work to enhance employment in the area.  If this legislation is enacted, Sallie Mae would no longer originate loans which would greatly impact the company, and could cause the loss of jobs.  Since I joined Congress, I have worked first and foremost to create jobs in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Especially in these difficult economic times, we must work to ensure that the jobs we have stay in the area and that more jobs are created.

"I agree with the intent of H.R. 3221 to allow as many students as possible to go to college, while also investing in community colleges, but I do not believe that this bill was the correct method to accomplish these goals."  

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