Not only did a health care bill get passed this week to help out our families but a student loan reform bill was also passed to help us as students. Obama quotes,"Education. Health care. Two of the most important pillars of a strong America grew stronger this week. These achievements don't represent the end of our challenges; nor do they signify the end of the work that faces our country. But what they do represent is real and major reform."
What the student loan reform bill did was ended the current programt that subsidized banks and other financial institutions. Instead of this, students will now be able to borrow directly from the federal government. The passing of this bill also greatly increases the Pell grant program for low-income students. They also want to try getting more support for minority-serving institutions and historically-black colleges. Another project under this reform is to help renew community colleges.
Obama also states on this reform, "Year after year, we've seen billions of taxpayer dollars handed out as subsidies to the bankers and middlemen who handle federal student loans when that money should have gone to advancing the dreams of our students and working families." He also quotes,"But this time, we said, would be different. We said we'd stand up to the special interests, and stand up for the interests of students and families. That's what happened this week. And I commend all the senators and representatives who did the right thing." I really do think that everything that Obama is doing for us with the student loan reform is amazing. It will help out so many students and not only save the government money and tax payers money from being given to banks and others who work with student loans but to us as students. I think it is great that Obama is looking out for. College is expensive enough just pay for books, rent, food let alone our tuition, fees and loan costs. No one wants to get out of college and have a huge stack of debts on them to pay back. By passing this loan he is helping us with that cause.
It is said that the legislation would save an estimated $61 billion over 10 years. Another things that will be starting in 2014 is that the legislation is going to cap a graduates' annual student loan repayment at 10 percent of their incom. This was a great thing to read for me and I'm sure anyone that is going to college. I remember my aunt telling me how much she had to pay back in student loans when she finally got out and started working. It took her 10 years just to pay them off and it was not easy to come up with that much extra money each month. I think that having this cap will be great for all of us. It will assure that we have enough of our checks to pay off our loan each month but also enough to live off of.
By July 1st, universities and colleges must have their computers ready to go and hooked up to work directly with the Education Department. They have about three months to get all of these things accomplished and ready to.
It is great to think of all the money being saved and the more opportunity for bigger grants and financial aid to be awarded to working students.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Chile
Chile... You may have heard about this country but if not here is a little insight for you.
A place where a reconstructed economy is one of the fastest growing in this world. This country is located along the Pacific coast of South America. Almost half of the population of Chile lives in its capital. Chile is also the world's larges copper producer. They also have other industries very important among the country such as; salmon farming, viniculture and agriculture.
On Feb. 27, 2010 an earthquake with a magnitude-8.8 struck the country. This quake was said to be one of the most powerful earthquakes in recorded history. Aftershocks are still taking place among cities being damaged along the coastline. These devastations are still damaging and occuring almost a week later. It was hard for rescue workers to reach places the earthquake damaged due to fallen telephone lines, bridges and roads that had been destroyed.
Doctors warn that the big pile of debris and wreckage and the gross amount of rotting fish leave Chile a huge place for infection. A vaccination campaign was started and Chileans were given hepatitus and tetnus shots. Cases of diarrhea were being reported and growing increasingly because of the unclean drinking water and patients that had been wading through the mess and debris left in Chile.
Looting of pharmacies hasn't helped the country either. It makes getting medicines to the sick seem impossible. This goes along with the 36 hospitals that were also heavily damaged in the wreck of the quake. Military and cilvilian field hospitals were still operating and trying to help out as much as they could.
The official death toll right now is about 452 but many people are still missing. The country stated that it needs water, electric systems and a functioning sewage system.
Learning of all these things makes me nervous of every trying to live along a coast or areas of large percent chances of being struck by earthquakes or tsunamis. Everything happens so fast, you don't even have time to prepare or protect yourself. I would hope that other countries could help the ones that survived in Chile. They need everyones help and support right now, and again, what comes around goes around. Helping others in their time of need could mean when you need help some one will be there. And helping out others always is just a simple and great thing to do as a person.
A place where a reconstructed economy is one of the fastest growing in this world. This country is located along the Pacific coast of South America. Almost half of the population of Chile lives in its capital. Chile is also the world's larges copper producer. They also have other industries very important among the country such as; salmon farming, viniculture and agriculture.
On Feb. 27, 2010 an earthquake with a magnitude-8.8 struck the country. This quake was said to be one of the most powerful earthquakes in recorded history. Aftershocks are still taking place among cities being damaged along the coastline. These devastations are still damaging and occuring almost a week later. It was hard for rescue workers to reach places the earthquake damaged due to fallen telephone lines, bridges and roads that had been destroyed.
Doctors warn that the big pile of debris and wreckage and the gross amount of rotting fish leave Chile a huge place for infection. A vaccination campaign was started and Chileans were given hepatitus and tetnus shots. Cases of diarrhea were being reported and growing increasingly because of the unclean drinking water and patients that had been wading through the mess and debris left in Chile.
Looting of pharmacies hasn't helped the country either. It makes getting medicines to the sick seem impossible. This goes along with the 36 hospitals that were also heavily damaged in the wreck of the quake. Military and cilvilian field hospitals were still operating and trying to help out as much as they could.
The official death toll right now is about 452 but many people are still missing. The country stated that it needs water, electric systems and a functioning sewage system.
Learning of all these things makes me nervous of every trying to live along a coast or areas of large percent chances of being struck by earthquakes or tsunamis. Everything happens so fast, you don't even have time to prepare or protect yourself. I would hope that other countries could help the ones that survived in Chile. They need everyones help and support right now, and again, what comes around goes around. Helping others in their time of need could mean when you need help some one will be there. And helping out others always is just a simple and great thing to do as a person.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
