WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson yesterday voted to support H.R. 1991, the Smarter Solutions for Students Act, a bill to prevent the student loan interest rate increase scheduled for July 1, and set all new student loans, except Perkins loans, to a market-based system. Loan rates would be calculated using the 10-year Treasury note plus 2.5 percent, reset once a year, and capped during higher rate environments. Thompson delivered the following remarks during floor debate before the bill passed the House by a vote of 221-198.