[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S9605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SANTORUM:
  S. 2044. A bill to provide for modification of the State agreement 
under title II of the Social Security Act with the State of 
Pennsylvania with respect to certain students; to the Committee on 
Finance.


               legislation helping pennsylvania students

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I wanted to take a few minutes of Senate 
business today to introduce legislation of importance to the 
Pennsylvania state system of higher education and to the students 
enrolled and working at our state-related universities.
  The bill is a companion measure to legislation in the House of 
Representatives. The House proposal was introduced by my friend and 
distinguished colleague from Pennsylvania, Representative Bill Clinger.
  Mr. President, this legislation will affect students and graduate 
assistants employed by Pennsylvania's public universities and will 
allow them to keep more of their pay from campus employment. Currently, 
student employees of Pennsylvania's State system of higher education 
are covered under FICA and pay taxes unlike working students at schools 
in most other states. Only a change in the law would enable 
Pennsylvania's colleges and universities to exempt their student 
employees from FICA coverage.
  This legislation would make Pennsylvania schools more attractive and 
competitive with the other states who have opted out of Social Security 
coverage. Graduate students are often called upon to perform paid 
assistant teaching duties. The current system and application of FICA 
coverage does not make Pennsylvania institutions as competitive with 
other out of state graduate programs.
  If a student or graduate student compares their employment earning 
possibilities with other states, Pennsylvania students are at a 
distinct disadvantage. At a time in young adults' lives when resources 
are usually limited, it makes practical sense to free up more funds for 
student employees who are working hard toward their educational goals.
  Today, colleges and universities are being called upon to downsize 
and make better use of dollars. This legislation is an easy way to 
support individuals who are attaining goals while attending 
Pennsylvania state-related universities.
                                 ______