[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 85 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7161-S7162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRULY A BRIGHT IDEA: NO COST TO TAXPAYERS

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, it is an exciting development that the 
electrical cooperatives in North Carolina are improving public 
education and the quality of classroom instruction without spending a 
dime of the taxpayer's money.
  Since 1994, the electrical cooperatives in my state have sponsored a 
grant program for teachers called ``Bright Ideas'', and it has been a 
roaring success--encouraging creative teaching by awarding grants of up 
to $2,000 to K-12 teachers in annual competitions. There is no 
restriction on subject matter to apply; in fact, Mr. President, 
teachers are not required to teach in a cooperative service area to 
compete.
  Teachers need only to show that they are using original, innovative 
ideas to improve the education of young people. These new teaching 
methods range from reading and music programs to creative math and 
science programs; from research involving computers and video 
technology to career-oriented programs to prepare teenagers for the 
working world. 2,000 teachers applied to cooperatives for grants this 
year, and more than 400 classrooms in North Carolina became ``Bright 
Ideas'' classrooms.
  Mr. President, North Carolina's electric cooperatives operate in 93 
of our 100 counties, providing power to almost a quarter of our state's 
population. Most members of these cooperatives aren't walking around 
with deep-pockets. They're hard-working folks in rural areas who 
recognize the value of a good education.

[[Page S7162]]

  The ``Bright Ideas'' program initiated by these fine people continues 
to flourish. In 1994, North Carolina's electric cooperatives authorized 
a collaborative statewide effort and allocated $225,000 annually for 
Bright Ideas for a five-year period. But a funny thing happened, Mr. 
President. These grants proved so successful that individual 
cooperatives are getting into the act and supplementing already 
allocated funds with money of their own. Their initiative will allow 
the cooperatives to award more than $1 million dollars in grants a full 
year ahead of schedule.
  In fact, Chuck Terrill, Executive Vice-President and CEO of the North 
Carolina Electric Membership Corporation says that ``Bright Ideas'' 
grants for North Carolina's school will top $1.5 million by the end of 
the 1998-1999 school year.
  Mr. President, ``Bright Ideas'' is just one of the many ways the 
members of North Carolina's electric cooperatives help their 
communities and support their public schools. I congratulate them for 
seeing a need and providing precious resources to challenge the 
children in North Carolina's classrooms.

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