[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 55 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2922-H2923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HIGHLIGHTS OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1998

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fox) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to discuss the 
very important legislation which was just

[[Page H2923]]

adopted in the House, speaking of the Higher Education Amendments of 
1998 which we passed this evening. This will reverse the current trend 
where it has been more difficult for many students to get into college 
because of financial reasons, and this is because college will be more 
affordable under our new amendments. It will simplify the student aid 
system and improve academic quality. In doing so, our bill enhances the 
freedom of Americans to live the American dream, rewards Americans who 
are willing to take responsibility for themselves in the future and 
restores accountability to the Nation's higher education programs.
  Higher education amendments make college more affordable by rescuing 
the student loan program and, in turn, providing students with the 
lowest interest rate in 17 years. Specifically, this provision ensures 
that private banks stay in the student loan program. Without it the 
student loan program would eventually collapse and college students 
would be left without the borrowing power which they need to finance 
their education.
  The higher ed bill makes college more affordable for students from 
disadvantaged backgrounds. It expands the Pell grant program which 
provides higher education vouchers for needy students and improves 
campus-based aid programs like the supplemental education opportunity 
grants, work-study and the Perkins loans, and strengthens international 
and graduate education.
  Mr. Speaker, it also brings much needed reforms to the TRIO program 
to help disadvantaged children prepare for college while still in their 
teens. Specifically the bill increases the maximum allowable Pell grant 
for students from the current 3,000 to $4,500 per student for academic 
year 1999, and the grants gradually increase to 5,300 in the year 2003 
to 2004.
  Furthermore, the bill acknowledges sacrifices rendered by making 
college more affordable for those who serve in the U.S. Armed forces. 
Specifically it exempts veterans' benefits from being counted against 
students when they apply for financial aid.
  This legislation holds colleges and universities accountable for 
tuition increases. Under the bill, colleges and universities are 
required to develop clear standards for reporting college costs and 
prices for both undergraduate and graduate education.
  It also simplifies the student aid system. The Higher Education 
Amendments of 1998, which we just voted upon, offers students a way out 
by making the student aid process more user-friendly, incorporating 
sales management principles into student aid programs, and cutting red 
tape and bureaucracy.
  One of the most important parts of this bill, Mr. Speaker, was the 
Foley amendment which requires that crime statistics be available to 
those who apply to colleges. I have in my own district a heroine, 
Connie Cleary, who has been working for many years to make sure that 
colleges report such security information. Her daughter was tragically 
murdered on a college campus. She and her husband have dedicated their 
lives to making sure that every college parent and student knows 
exactly what the security situation is at each university, so that 
together we can make our campuses safer and to make sure that 
individuals who attend schools have every piece of knowledge they 
should know about the campus in making an informed choice.
  This bill is a positive bill. I believe it is going to help more 
students attend college and be able to financially afford to achieve 
their dream and then go on to get the job which best suits the academic 
challenges they have met.

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