[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 88 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 88


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 5, 1999

                                Received

                             July 14, 1999

  Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Urging the Congress and the President to increase funding for the Pell 
         Grant Program and existing Campus-Based Aid Programs.

Whereas the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant Program, now known as the Pell 
        Grant Program in honor of Senator Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island, was 
        first authorized in the 1972 amendments to the Higher Education Act of 
        1965;
Whereas the Pell Grant Program has become the largest need-based Federal higher 
        education scholarship program
    and is considered the foundation for all Federal student 
        aid;
Whereas the purpose of the program is to assist students from low income 
        families who would not otherwise be financially able to attend a 
        postsecondary institution by providing grants to students to be used to 
        pay the costs of attending the postsecondary institution of their 
        choice;
Whereas in the late 1970's, the Pell Grant covered seventy-five percent of the 
        average cost of attending a public four-year college; by the late 
        1990's, it only covered thirty-six percent of the cost of attending a 
        public four-year college;
Whereas families across the country are concerned about the rising cost of a 
        college education, and for children from low income families, the cost 
        of college continues to be an overwhelming factor in their decision to 
        forego a college education;
Whereas children from high income families are almost twice as likely to enroll 
        in college as children from low income families;
Whereas higher education promotes economic opportunity for individuals and 
        economic competitiveness for our Nation;
Whereas the Pell Grant and Campus-Based Aid Programs target aid to low income 
        students as effectively as any programs administered by the Federal 
        government; and
Whereas student borrowing to finance a postsecondary education has increased to 
        an average indebtedness of $9,700, and therefore increased grant aid is 
        more important than ever: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress and the President, should, working within the 
constraints of the balanced budget agreement, make student scholarship 
aid the highest priority for higher education funding by increasing the 
maximum Pell Grant awarded to low income students by $400 and 
increasing other existing campus-based aid programs that serve low-
income students prior to authorizing or appropriating funds for any new 
education initiative.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 4, 1999.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.