[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 152 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11665]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A+ EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today as a cosponsor of the 
Coverdell A+ education accounts, offered in legislation by my colleague 
the Senator from Georgia. This legislation would allow parents to 
contribute up to $2,500 per child to an education savings account, in 
which it would accrue tax-exempt interest that could be used for K-12 
education expenses.
  Each year, Mr. President, we are bombarded with statistics showing 
that our children are losing ground academically.
  Each year, colleges and universities spend millions on remedial 
education for children entering their halls without the basic skills 
necessary to succeed in their courses.
  Fully 60 percent of our 17-year-olds are not reading at grade level. 
They are unprepared to take their place in a college classroom, or in 
the many skilled occupations that literally make our country work. It 
is painfully clear, in my view, that something must be done to improve 
the quality of our K-12 education.
  We spend more money per child than nearly any other industrialized 
nation. But, tragically, half of American children cannot meet minimum 
standards in reading and math.
  The problem with our schools is not how much money we are spending on 
them. It is how that money is being spent--and even more importantly 
who is deciding how that money will be spent.
  Too many decisions regarding our children's education are being made 
by bureaucrats in Washington and too few by parents. Thus too much 
money is being spent on bureaucrats and Washington-knows-best 
regulations, and too little on meeting the real educational needs of 
our children.
  Mr. President, Michigan does not need Federal programs and Beltway 
bureaucrats to improve our education system; we need more power in the 
hands of our parents.
  Teachers, principals, and school boards also are crucial to educating 
our children. But we must not forget that every child's most important, 
extensive, and fundamental education takes place in the home and must 
be guided by the principles and habits established there.
  Every day parents educate children--helping with homework, looking 
over tests, and providing the love and support that foster successful 
intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth. No Washington program can 
provide this nurturing. And this makes it our duty to increase parents' 
power and resources as they seek to steer their children to successful 
and responsible adulthood.
  During the balanced budget debate, Congress focused a great deal of 
attention on loans and other assistance for higher education. But while 
the availability and quality of higher education should be an issue of 
tremendous concern for our Nation, it becomes a moot point if children 
do not receive the education they need in elementary and secondary 
school.
  During consideration of the Taxpayer Relief Act last summer, Congress 
debated legislation allowing parents to set up an education savings 
account to help pay tuition and other expenses at public or private 
colleges.
  Senator Coverdell offered an amendment to that provision, allowing 
the funds to also be used for K-12 education expenses. This amendment 
passed the Senate but, regrettably, was taken out during conference due 
to a threatened veto by the President.
  Thankfully, the Senator from Georgia has reintroduced his amendment 
as a free-standing bill. In doing so, he has forced Congress to address 
the critical question of what we can do to support parents as they 
struggle to provide the best education possible for their children.
  Senator Coverdell's legislation is an important step in the right 
direction because it provides parents greater opportunity to save and 
invest in not only their child's higher education, but in their child's 
elementary and secondary education as well.
  Specifically, the Coverdell A+ accounts bill expands the use of 
education savings accounts to include expenses related to elementary 
and secondary education at public, private, or religious schools and 
homeschools.
  Parents may withdraw from the account to pay for tuition, fees, 
tutoring, special needs services, books, supplies, computer equipment 
and software, transportation, and supplementary expenses.
  This legislation provides parents with a wide variety of 
opportunities to supplement their child's education. Some parents may 
choose a private or specialized education setting for their child.
  For children attending public school, parents can use the money for 
tutoring or transportation costs. For parents of a child with special 
needs, the money could be used for tutoring or other personalized 
services.
  Put simply, the Coverdell A+ accounts bill provides parents with more 
options to meet the educational needs of their children at an early 
age. And this improved education will produce better opportunities for 
their children throughout their lives.
  Mr. President, the education savings account proposal for higher 
education passed Congress overwhelmingly, and was supported by the 
President. It is simply irrational to oppose the same concept for 
elementary and secondary education.
  For all the reasons Congress supported investing in higher education, 
Congress must support investing in elementary and secondary education. 
Both proposals are based on a sound principle, that parents should plan 
for the long-term educational needs of their children. The Coverdell 
proposal allows parents to do that from the moment their child enters 
elementary school until that child graduates from college.
  In my view, Mr. President, there is no reason to oppose A+ accounts 
on the grounds that they would provide Federal support to religious 
schools.
  Right now, today, Federal funds in the form of student loan 
guarantees and other assistance are helping thousands of college 
students attend religious colleges. I have heard no serious objections 
to this practice, and I am glad for that.
  There is no reason to discriminate against students choosing to 
attend Catholic University, Notre Dame, Calvin College, or any of the 
many other fine religious colleges in America.
  By the same token, however, there is no sound reason for objecting to 
students and their parents who choose to attend primary and secondary 
schools with religious affiliations.
  Likewise, Mr. President, I see no basis for the charge that A+ 
accounts will starve our public schools of needed funds. No provision 
in this legislation will cost public schools so much as one thin dime.
  Rather, A+ accounts will bring significant benefits to our public 
schools. We should keep in mind, for example, that fully 70 percent of 
the children whose parents will receive benefits under this legislation 
attend public school. The extra help in the form of tutors, computers 
and other aids that the children will receive thanks to A+ accounts 
will make them better students and enhance the learning experience for 
all children in those schools.

                          ____________________