[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 8, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S16815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT--AN UNHAPPY BIRTHDAY

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, 30 years ago today President Johnson 
signed into law the Higher Education Act of 1965. I served on the 
committee that approved the bill, and it passed the Senate by voice 
vote, without opposition.
  When he signed the bill at Southwest Texas State College, in San 
Marcos, TX, President Johnson noted that: ``The President's signature 
upon this legislation passed by Congress will swing open a new door for 
the young people of America. For them, and for this entire land of 
ours, it is the most important door that will ever open--the door to 
education.''
  Yet today, for the first time in 30 years, we are in danger of 
closing that door. The Republican budget proposes the largest education 
cuts in the Nation's history--$36 billion over the 7-year budget 
period. This is an extraordinarily severe cutback that will harm 
schools and colleges, parents and children across the country.
  Under the Republican plan, student loans for college will be cut by 
$4.9 billion. The remainder of the cuts will come from Pell grants, 
College Work Study, Head Start, Title One, Goals 2000, and other 
initiatives that Congress has passed with strong bipartisan support.
  This is no time to cut education. When we passed the Higher Education 
Act, the post-war baby-boom students were entering college in record 
numbers. In the years ahead, the sons and daughters of that generation 
will be applying to colleges in record numbers--yet Congress will be 
slamming the door on them.
  The Republican budget means that 1,000,000 students will lose the 
chance for Pell grants, or see them reduced in value by 40 percent. It 
will dismantle the direct loan program that has brought lower costs and 
better service to students and colleges. It will slash aid to public 
schools across the country. Cutting education as we enter the 
information age is like cutting defense at the height of the cold war. 
It is wrong, and it makes no sense.
  For 30 years, we have honored the principle that education is the key 
that unlocks the American dream. On this anniversary, I urge Congress 
to recommit itself to that fundamental principle. There is still time 
to do the right thing for education in the current budget battle.

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