Dear Mr. Gresham:
Thank you for sharing your concerns about student loans. As a teacher myself, I appreciate your advocacy on behalf of Tennessee's students.
I share your alarm over our students' personal debt and have long supported programs to make higher education more affordable and to ease the burden of student loans. For example, in the 111thCongress, the House passed H.R. 5458, the Christopher BryskiStudent Loan Protection Act. This bill sought to amend the Truth in Lending Act so that institutions of higher education include information on creating a power of attorney while counseling new borrowers and cosigners. It also required that lenders of private educational loans clearly describe a cosigners' obligation in the event that the borrower or cosigner becomes disabled, incapacitated, or passes away.
Although H.R. 5458 passed the House, the Senate failed to act. If I have another opportunity to vote on this or similar legislation, I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind.
Thanks again for taking the time to get in touch with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me again if my office can be of additional assistance.
Sincerely,
Jim Cooper
Member of Congress
Jim Cooper
Member of Congress
