[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 91 (Friday, July 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S7962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1998

 Mr. FAIRCLOTH. Mr. President, I am in strong support of S. 
1882, the Higher Education Act of 1998. Every young person who wishes 
to pursue an education beyond the first 12 years should be able to do 
so. This bill contains important provisions to help students pay for 
the rapidly rising costs of college. It will benefit millions of 
students across the country in their pursuit of a higher education. I 
will highlight just a few of the provisions in this legislation.
  First, I support the compromise reached by my colleagues in the Labor 
and Human Resources Committee that provides a low interest repayment 
rate for student loans, while still allowing a rate necessary for the 
uninterrupted flow of loan capital from banks. The Clinton 
Administration wanted to place the entire loan program under the 
jurisdiction of the Department of Education. I am adamantly opposed to 
this proposal. There is no reason nor justification to have the Federal 
government run a program that is being provided efficiently by the 
private sector. In fact, we should be doing more to have the entire 
program run by private lenders.
  Second, I recognize the need for good teachers are more and more 
educators leave the field to pursue other professions. Improving the 
quality of the current and future teaching force calls for the 
improvement of preparation programs and the enhancement of professional 
development activities. I support North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt's 
Commission Report, ``What Matters Most: Teaching for America's 
Future,'' which has a goal to provide 100,000 national accredited 
teachers. This bill provides the means for accomplishing that goal by 
providing teacher certification.
  Finally, our nation is facing an alarming increase in violence and 
drug use on college campuses across the country. I was a co-sponsor of 
a bill to require that colleges report instances of rape or assault to 
the student body. I am pleased that this legislation was accepted as an 
amendment to this bill. I also support another provision of S. 1882 
that would prevent students convicted of drug use or possession from 
being eligible for federal aid unless they complete a rehabilitation 
program. Taxpayers shouldn't support the tuition of students who 
recklessly use illegal drugs.
  To be competitive in the global economy, America needs to provide its 
students with the means to better their education. I believe we must 
protect programs for higher education. The Higher Education Act makes 
college more affordable and improves the academic environment for 
students and teachers. The bill is a sound piece of legislation which I 
am pleased to support.

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