[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TUITION CREDIT ASPECTS OF TAX PROPOSALS

  (Mr. FAZIO of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, while the Republican tax bill 
is loaded with benefits for the rich, it offers little to make higher 
education affordable for the rest of us. The Democratic tax cut, in 
contrast, provides a credit of up to $1,500 in tuition for 2 years of 
community college.
  For example, if you go to a college where the tuition is $1,500 you 
will get a full $1,500 tax credit. Compare that to the Republican plan, 
where you get only 50 percent of tuition costs up to $3,000. The $1,500 
tuition bill will get you only a $750 credit, or half as much.
  The Democratic plan would allow employers to continue to deduct 
tuition expenses. Therefore, millions of workers who are hitting the 
books to improve their skills through employer-paid plans would be 
allowed to continue. The Republicans would end the deduction, and put 
an end to many of those programs.
  That is why the Republicans are getting an F for their education plan 
from student and business groups nationwide. Building opportunity for 
more Americans by making education affordable is one of the building 
blocks of the Democratic tax cut. We urge the President to continue to 
fight for this provision as the negotiations continue.

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