WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Andy Barr released the following statement regarding student loan rates that are doubling today due to Senate Democrats' inaction on the House-passed solution:

“I am very disappointed that the Senate has failed to take any action to keep student loan rates from doubling.  Many Kentucky families depend on student loans to make it easier to pay for college, but Senate Democrats chose to put politics ahead of students and make it harder.  Working families, students and graduates deserve better than what they are getting from President Obama and Senate Democrats.”

In May, Congressman Barr voted for the Smarter Solutions for Students Act, House-passed legislation which would have taken immediate action to prevent student loan rates from increasing unnecessarily.  President Obama threatened a veto and House and Senate Democrats have since offered no long-term alternative.