[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 25, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H612-H613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   INCENTIVE FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

  (Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and include extraneous material.)
  Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, today I rise to announce that I will be 
introducing a bill that will offer students significant motivation to 
pursue academic excellence during their high school years. The bill is 
entitled the Incentive for Achievement through Pell Grants Act.
  I am a strong supporter of the Pell grant program and would like to 
take this moment to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Goodling), the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McKeon), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter), and the gentleman from Wisconsin 
(Mr. Obey) for their leadership on Pell grants.
  My bill would double the Pell grant award for the first 2 years of 
college for those Pell eligible students who, against all the odds, 
graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school class. Over 84,000 
students can benefit from this achievement award.

[[Page H613]]

  This bill will provide students with a strong incentive to achieve 
academically in high school. This bill will increase the affordability 
of higher education without increasing the indebtedness of students and 
their families. This bill will increase the accessibility of a higher 
education and expand the options of college choice available to 
students and their families.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in this effort and cosponsor 
this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the following for the Record:


                                American Council on Education,

                                Washington, DC, February 17, 1998.
     Hon. James P. McGovern,
     U.S. House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative McGovern: I write to express my 
     interest in and appreciation for the bill you are sponsoring, 
     the ``Incentive for Achievement Through Pell Grants Act,'' 
     which will establish a program to increase Pell Grant awards 
     to students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their high 
     school class. This bill is clear evidence of your commitment 
     to providing greater access to higher education for students 
     from low- and middle-income families.
       Your proposal to provide an incentive to students with 
     early information about the availability of an increased Pell 
     Grant could have a profoundly positive impact on students' 
     academic performances and aspirations. This will help to 
     mitigate students' concern that resources necessary to fund a 
     postsecondary education are beyond their financial reach, and 
     will instead motivate them to achieve greater academic 
     success.
       I congratulate you for introducing this innovative 
     legislation. I look forward to working with you as 
     reauthorization of the Higher Education Act progresses.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Terry W. Hartle,
                                            Senior Vice President.
                                 ______
                                 
                                             Association of Jesuit


                                    Colleges and Universities,

                                Washington, DC, February 17, 1998.
     Hon. James P. McGovern,
     U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman McGovern: On behalf of the Association of 
     Jesuit Colleges and Universities, I want to commend and 
     support your initiative in introducing the ``Incentive for 
     Achievement Through Pell Grants Act'' for needy students who 
     have demonstrated special achievement.
       The doubling of the Pell Grant for recipients who graduate 
     in the top 10% of their high school class can provide both an 
     incentive and a reward for those students. This program would 
     send the encouraging message to students struggling to 
     achieve under difficult circumstances that their hard work 
     and perseverance will be rewarded.
       The new Hope Tax Scholarship Credit and Life-Long Learning 
     Tax Credit assist middle income families in providing an 
     education for their children. Your program addresses the 
     needs of lower income families.
       Pell Grants have long been a critical component of federal 
     student financial aid programs on our campuses. Our 
     association has consistently worked diligently to preserve 
     these and all campus-based programs at the same time we have 
     significantly increased our own institutional commitment to 
     financial aid for our students. Your new program very 
     importantly supplements these efforts, rather than replacing 
     them.
       Our special thanks to you for this latest example of your 
     leadership, this time in support of deserving and needy 
     students who will help create our nation's future.
           Sincerely and gratefully,
                                          Charles L. Currie, S.J.,
                                                        President.
                                 ______
                                 


                             Colleges of Worcester Consortium,

                                 Worcester, MA, February 18, 1997.

          Statement of Paul J. Lynskey, Director of EDCENTRAL

       ``Those of us who work with low income college bound 
     students know that the cost of an education is often 
     perceived as a major barrier. We need to do all that we can 
     to encourage these students especially those with exceptional 
     ability, to strive for their ultimate potential in higher 
     education and beyond''
                                 ______
                                 


                                           Assumption College,

                                 Worcester, MA, February 18, 1998.

       Dr. Charles L. Flynn, Jr. Endorses Pell Grant Legislation

       Worcester--Dr. Charles L. Flynn Jr., acting president and 
     provost of Assumption College, spoke in support of 
     Congressman James P. McGovern's Pell Grant legislation today.
       Dr. Flynn remarked, ``On behalf of Assumption College, it 
     is my pleasure to commend Congressman McGovern for leading 
     the effort to increase Pell Grants. Pell is the federal 
     government's largest, most important program of need-based 
     financial aid. More than any other federal program, it 
     targets low and middle-income students.
       ``Congressman McGovern's proposal to create a `Double' Pell 
     Grant for students of high academic achievement is 
     particularly impressive. This proposal simultaneously 
     addresses two important national needs. First is the need to 
     make educational opportunity available to all citizens 
     without regard to family wealth. Second is the importance of 
     encouraging outstanding student achievement. Congressman 
     McGovern's legislation will help to keep the doors of higher 
     education open to students who need financial assistance; it 
     will also reward high school students who strive hard, learn 
     more, and earn better grades.
       ``Last year, 16 percent of Assumption students who applied 
     for financial aid were eligible to receive Pell Grants. The 
     average award to these students was $1,500. Those Pell Grants 
     were supplemented by other federal and state loans and 
     grants. And by far, the largest amount of financial aid came 
     to students and their families from the College itself. The 
     system I am describing, therefore, is a partnership of 
     colleges, state government, and the federal government. This 
     partnership is essential if we are to continue to be a nation 
     of true opportunity.
       ``Congressman McGovern, you are playing a vital role in the 
     Congress of the United States. At Assumption, we share your 
     view that Congress should do more to ensure opportunity for 
     low and middle-income students. I hope that everyone here 
     today will send a message to our congressional leadership 
     that the McGovern Bill is important, not only to Central 
     Massachusetts, but also to higher education nationally.
       ``Higher education serves several purposes. As chief 
     academic officer of this liberal arts college, I am 
     particularly aware of the humanizing role of a college 
     education. At Assumption, in reason and in faith, we prepare 
     citizens. We prepare students for the good use of their 
     talents, the responsible exercise of their rights, and the 
     fulfillment of their obligations to others. That is true for 
     our graduates at work, at home, and in the public square. In 
     that way, too, I am keenly aware of the importance of higher 
     education to the future of Central Massachusetts. If we are 
     to have a community of hope and economic opportunity, we must 
     have a highly skilled workforce. The McGovern Bill promises 
     to keep the doors of higher education wide open, and thus to 
     further both the noble and practical ends of our colleges and 
     universities.''
                                                 Richard P. Burke,
     Vice President, Public Affairs.

                          ____________________