Senate will take up House Export-Import Bank bill, continues debate on Dems' student loan bill

The Senate reconvenes on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and resumes consideration of S. 2343, the Stop Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act. The chamber will also begin consideration of a legislation reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank. That bill passed the House overwhelmingly on Wednesday and is very likely to move swiftly through the Senate. 

Senate Democrats continued to urge Republicans to end their obstruction of the Senate student loan interest bill. The Democrats' calls seemed to fall on deaf ears though as there was no sign that a deal had been reached on moving the Democrat-sponsored bill forward.

Senate Republicans successfully blocked a motion to proceed on the legislation on Tuesday. They object to the funding method in the bill, which extends the current 3.4 percent interest rate on Stafford loans for a year, and would rather extend the rate by taking money from a fund in the Obama administration's healthcare reform bill.

The Senate also passed four bills by unanimous consent Wednesday afternoon. One, S. 2224, requires President Obama to report to Congress on matters related to Syria. The Senate also designated May 15, 2012 "National MPS Awareness Day" through (S.Res. 450). The chamber also approved a resolution "recognizing the goals of National Travel and Tourism Week" (S. Res. 451) and one designating July 13, 2012 "Collector Car Appreciation Day" (S.Res. 452).

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