[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 55 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S3912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BIDEN (by request):
  S. 688. A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize 
Presidential Honors Scholarships to be awarded to all students who 
graduate in the top 5 percent of their secondary school graduating 
class, to promote and recognize high academic achievement in secondary 
school, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Labor and Human 
Resources.


            THE PRESIDENTIAL HONORS SCHOLARSHIP ACT OF 1997

 Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, I am pleased today to reintroduce 
President Clinton's proposal, the Presidential Honors Scholarship Act 
of 1997. I first introduced this bill on behalf of the administration 
last September--and I have included a very similar proposal in my own 
comprehensive higher education legislation, known as the Get Ahead Act. 
I am honored to have the opportunity to reintroduce this measure for 
the President, who continues his endless efforts at improving American 
education and making sure that college is affordable to all Americans.
  Most people are probably not familiar with Presidential Honors 
Scholarships, but I think many people have heard of the idea of merit 
scholarships. It is pretty simple. Under the bill, all students in 
public and private schools who graduate in the top 5 percent of their 
class would be designated as Presidential honors scholars and would 
receive a $1,000 scholarship to college. The scholarship could be used 
during their freshman year at the college of their choice, and the 
scholarship would not be used in determining eligibility for other 
financial aid.
  I strongly support merit scholarships for two reasons. First, we need 
to start rewarding excellence in educational achievement. Under the 
leadership of President Clinton, 4 years ago Congress passed 
legislation that encourages States to set high academic standards for 
their students. This proposal builds on that idea by rewarding those 
students who meet those high standards. Students who work hard and 
succeed ought to be recognized and rewarded.
  Second, by providing scholarship moneys, this bill will help 
thousands of students in paying for the costs of a college education, 
which, I might add, is becoming more and more difficult for middle-
class families. I realize that $1,000 does not go a long way in paying 
for a public college education, not to mention the costs of a private 
college. But, it will be of some help, and for those who choose to go 
to a community college, it will pay for about two-thirds of the cost.
  Mr. President, I suspect that we will be debating higher education 
more than once this year. There is much to be done. We need to provide 
a tax deduction for the costs of college. We should allow penalty-free 
withdrawals from Individual Retirement Accounts to pay for college. We 
should make permanent the employer-provided education tax exclusion. We 
need to expand the Pell Grant Program. And, we need to reauthorize the 
Higher Education Act.
  In that process, however, let us not forget merit scholarships. It is 
not the answer, but it is part of the answer. It is a piece of the 
puzzle. And while some would say that it is a small piece, it plays an 
important role in being the one piece that rewards those students who 
reach for excellence.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues and with President 
Clinton in seeing that this proposal becomes law.
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