[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 59 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S4251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

  Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge and commend 
the State of Georgia's HOPE Scholarship program. The HOPE Scholarship, 
which stands for helping outstanding pupils educationally, has served 
as a model of excellence in education for a number of other States, and 
indeed the entire Nation. I am honored to represent a State, which in 
my opinion, has one of the most innovative educational programs in the 
country.
  The HOPE Scholarship provides eligible students wishing to attend a 
Georgia Pubic College or University with tuition, mandatory fees and a 
$100 book allowance. The HOPE Scholarship also provides eligible 
students wishing to attend a Georgia Private College or University with 
$3000 per academic school year and an additional $1000 in Georgia 
Tuition Equalization Grants per academic year. To be eligible, students 
must be a Georgia resident, graduated from high school after a certain 
date and have completed high school with a ``B'' average. Students must 
continue to perform well academically and maintain a ``B'' average 
while in college to continue to receive the HOPE Scholarship.
  Students wishing to attend a Georgia Public Technical Institute are 
also eligible for the HOPE Scholarship. The HOPE scholarship provides 
tuition, mandatory fees and a $100 book allowance for students 
attending these technical institutions.
  Since the program began in September of 1993, more than 238,500 
Georgia students have been awarded HOPE Scholarships. Because of the 
HOPE Scholarship college enrollment is up 1.2 percent, full-time 
private college enrollment is up 32 percent and technical school 
enrollment is up 24 percent in Georgia. At the University of Georgia, 
97 percent of the entering in-state freshman were on HOPE Scholarships 
for the Fall 1996 quarter. At the Georgia Institute of Technology, 96 
percent of in-state entering students in 1996 were on HOPE 
Scholarships.
  The HOPE Scholarship has given, and will continue to give, thousands 
of Georgia students the financial encouragement both to attend college 
and to persist and gain a degree. Students in Georgia know that if they 
work hard and do well academically, despite the rising cost of higher 
education, they will be provided the resources needed to further their 
education. Not only does the HOPE Scholarship reward those students who 
are willing to work hard with tuition money, but it also serves as 
incentive to keep Georgia's best and brightest in the great state of 
Georgia.
  A lack of financial resources should not prevent any American from 
pursuing a college education and thanks to the Georgia HOPE 
Scholarship, in Georgia, it doesn't. Unfortunately, however, the lack 
of financial resources remains the number one obstacle to higher 
education for many American students and their families. This is why it 
is so important that the necessary financial resources are provided to 
all students pursuing a higher education and why the importance of 
current education legislation, such as S. 12, that addresses this 
crucial need cannot be overlooked.
  I believe that federal support for education is one of the best 
investments our nation can make to ensure future security and 
prosperity. In keeping with this commitment to education I am a proud 
co-sponsor of S.12. The goal of S. 12 is to make higher education more 
accessible and affordable for all students. S. 12, ``The Education for 
the 21st Century Act,'' includes two new forms of assistance to help 
families meet the costs of higher education. The first form of 
assistance, also called the HOPE Scholarship, is a $1500 per year 
refundable tax credit for the first two years of post-secondary 
education. To qualify for the credit, students must have a ``B'' 
average and be drug-free. S. 12 also includes a tax deduction of up to 
$10,000 per year for qualified education expenses.
  In these days of budget cuts, we must not forget that the future of 
our country depends on the youth of today. If we deny our youth the 
necessary tools to grow and learn we deny ourselves a better tomorrow. 
The Georgia HOPE Scholarship is a shining example of how the people and 
the government can come together to create an efficient, highly 
successful program that benefits everyone.
  The Georgia HOPE Scholarship has been an overwhelming success and 
Georgians have been very fortunate to have reaped such a wealth of 
benefits from this innovative program. S. 12 is an attempt to provide 
similar opportunities for all Americans. We must work together as a 
nation to ensure that barriers to higher education continue to fall for 
all Americans. It is my sincere hope that the entire nation will follow 
Georgia's lead and make education a top priority. The future of our 
country depends on it.

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