Federal student loan interest rates are set to increase this summer unless Congress acts to keep the rates from doubling.

President Barack Obama is pushing members of Congress to extend a law that cuts interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans. If nothing happens, those rates will double on July 1 ”“ from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, according to the Associated Press.

This federal loan program helps millions of low- and middle-income undergraduates go to college, and with the economy still making a sluggish recovery, students do not need a higher bill from the government.

Many congressional Republicans have vowed never to raise taxes, but they will not support the majority of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet ”“ or to find a job at all.

Young people have experienced higher jobless rates than some other demographics, and many of those young people have taken the opportunity to continue their education to become better qualified to enter the workforce. Now, lawmakers are putting in jeopardy the ability of those young people to pay back their financial obligations.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan said last week that more than 7 million students would be impacted if rates rose, and the cost would be an additional $1,000 on average, he said.

This kind of increase could make many students’ budgets ”“ already stretched thin ”“ impossible to manage. Students who took a graduated payment plan or deferred their loans because they couldn’t find work already have mounting interest and growing future payments. This additional burden would certainly lead to more people getting behind on payments and defaulting on their loans.

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, is a co-sponsor of the bill that would make low interest rates permanent, but the House Republicans have refused to bring the bill up for a vote, she said in a statement this week.

Pingree also pointed out that Americans now owe more on student loans than they do on credit cards. She added, “At a time when families are already struggling to make ends meet, this is the last thing they need.”

We agree.

Obama and Pingree are right to stand up for students and support average Americans in need of support now ”“ especially with the rising cost of food, gasoline, health care and everyday purchases.

Members of Congress need to put their differences aside and work together on a solution for students to ensure they are not unfairly burdened by this law’s expiration. Despite the deficit and future budget issues, the country will never get back to a healthy financial state if the majority of Americans cannot afford to pay their bills.

Lawmakers need to approve policies that will help ease the burden on regular Americans who are struggling to get by.

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Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.