The House of Representatives voted 356-71 to cut interest rates on student loans on Jan. 17.

The passage of legislation that was sponsored by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) will now cut the interest on loans from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent over a five year period. However, it will cost taxpayers $6 billion according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The aim of the bill itself is to make education much more affordable to students and the end result of the bill is to reduce the $6 billion cost by having the government return more of the money to lenders. Also, it would require that banks pay more fees.

In hearing about the cut on student loans, Cerritos students said that they are glad to see that something was being done to save money.

David DeLeon, undecided major said, “That is a good thing, lowering the student loan interest rate, because it will give more students the opportunity to come to college.”

He said that he pays for his tuition to go to school and that he was also aware that the tuition at the community college level had been lowered.

However, he said, “I think that coming to college should be free.” Paul Srivongphanish, undecided major, thinks that education shouldn’t be the only free thing.

“It’s the books that are a pain in the wallet,” he said. He said he has spent at least $320 for books for the classes he is currently enrolled in and that is not fair so he thinks something should be done about it.

David Morales, history major, agreed but he said that it was good to hear that the government has started doing something concerning student loans.