Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) issued the following statement today after Senate Republicans filibustered legislation to keep interest rates on subsidized student loans from doubling from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1:

"The Republicans' heartless decision to block lower interest rates on student loans will hurt 570,000 California students who will have to pay thousands more for their education. Already too many students and families are struggling to afford the rising costs of college, and Republicans just don't get it."