[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCING THE COLLEGE TUITION REDUCTION AND INFORMATION ACT OF 1997

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                        HON. WILLIAM F. GOODLING

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 17, 1998

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleague from 
California, Mr. McKeon, in introducing the College Tuition Reduction 
and Information Act.
  In today's technology and information based economy, getting a high 
quality postsecondary education is more important than ever. For many 
Americans, it will be the key to the American dream. Historically, 
higher education prices have increased at roughly the rate of 
inflation. However, since the early 1980's, college tuition has 
spiraled at a rate of two-to-three times that of inflation every year. 
According to a report released by the General Accounting Office (GAO), 
between 1980-1981 and 1994-1995, tuition at 4-year public colleges and 
universities increased 234 percent, while median household income rose 
82 percent, and the consumer price index rose only 74 percent.
  Over the past year, I have held hearings across the country as my 
Committee worked to update and improve the Higher Education Act. One 
consistent theme I have heard from parents and students where ever I 
went was the reality that paying for college is a huge financial 
burden, and that for some, a college education will soon be out of 
reach. It is alarming to me that, at a time when the higher education 
programs under my Committee's jurisdiction provide roughly $40 billion 
per year in student financial aid, parents and students tell me they 
cannot afford to pay the college bills. It is clear to me, as it is to 
anyone that has ever sent a child to college, that college is too 
expensive.
  This trend in college pricing is especially alarming in that it only 
seems to apply to higher education. There are many other endeavors and 
many businesses that must keep pace with changing technologies and 
federal regulations. However, in order to stay affordable to their 
customers and stay competitive in the market, they manage to hold cost 
increases to a more moderate level.
  That is why I'm joining my colleagues today in introducing this 
important legislation to implement a number of the recommendations of 
the Commission on the Cost of Higher Education. It is time that we all 
did something to control college costs. I want to ensure my colleagues 
and families across the country that I will continue to work hard to 
see that every American has access to a quality postsecondary education 
at an affordable price. This legislation will provide a needed step in 
that direction.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and to 
cosponsor the College Tuition Reduction and Information Act.

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