[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 132 (Monday, September 28, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H9151-H9162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 6, HIGHER EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1998

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of 
Friday, September 25, 1998, I call up the conference report on the bill 
(H.R. 6) to extend the authorization of programs under the Higher 
Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
Friday, September 25, 1998, the conference report is considered as 
having been read.
  (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of the House of 
Friday, September 25, 1998, at page H8978).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Goodling) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), each will control 
30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling).
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of the conference report on H.R. 6, the Higher 
Education Amendments of 1998. I want to express my sincere appreciation 
to the members of the conference committee for the efforts they put 
forth in resolving the differences between the House and the Senate 
bill. This has truly been a bipartisan, bicameral effort.
  Particularly I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
McKeon) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for their efforts 
in putting this legislation together and for their determination in 
finding a solution to the 1998 interest rate problem.
  Without their efforts, millions of students could not begin this 
academic year with the student loans they need to pay for college. Also 
I want to thank the ranking member of the committee the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay) for his efforts in resolving this issue and many 
others that arose throughout the process.
  I especially want to thank the Speaker of House, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Gingrich), the majority leader, the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Armey), and chairman of the Committee on the Budget, the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Kasich). Without their help, this interest rate solution 
would not have been possible. All three contributed to ensuring that we 
could pay for this provision, which is now budget neutral, without 
passing any of the costs on to students.
  Considering H.R. 6, we will complete a process that began in 
subcommittee

[[Page H9152]]

of the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) 2 years ago. The Higher 
Education Act currently provides more than $40 billion per year in 
student financial assistance.
  The legislation will benefit millions of students across the country 
in the pursuit of a higher education. This bill will improve programs 
such as Work-Study, Pell Grants, TRIO and, of course, student loans 
that help millions of students pay for college.
  This legislation will do a number of important things. However, none 
may be as important as our efforts to keep student loans available for 
all students. As all of my colleagues know, we have been struggling for 
the past year and a half with the student loan interest rate issue that 
is the direct result of the Student Loan Reform Act of 1993. As a 
parent, I am keenly aware of the burden being placed on our youth by 
student loan debt.
  I am personally committed to ensuring that our students entering 
college this fall have student loans, Pell grants and campus-based aid 
available to them to help offset the rising college costs facing this 
country today, very important.
  I am especially pleased that the interest rate fix contained in H.R. 
6 will ensure uninterrupted access to private capital for our Nation's 
students while at the same time provide today's borrowers with the 
lowest student loan interest rate in 17 years. Students, college 
leaders and bankers have all praised the compromise on interest rates 
included in the House and Senate bills. Major student groups have 
described this proposal as, and I quote, a realistic, fair and 
evenhanded compromise that protects students' needs for lower borrowing 
rates.
  The American Council on Education and 10 other major higher education 
groups representing over 3600 colleges and universities praised the 
fact that the proposal ensures the continued availability of capital in 
the guaranteed student loan program.
  As far as college costs are concerned, I would like to note that H.R. 
6 will implement a number of the recommendations of the Commission on 
the Cost of Higher Education. Those who run institutions of higher 
education have to understand, we do not put more money into loans and 
grants so that they can raise their tuition rates. They have to tighten 
their belt just as businesses have to all over the country in order to 
make sure that college education is affordable.
  H.R. 6 takes needed steps in that direction by ensuring parents and 
students that they have access to information on the price and the 
price increases at America's colleges and universities as well as 
information on the factors which are driving tuition increases.
  I would like to single out one specific cost-saving provision which 
permits colleges to offer their faculty age-based voluntary retirement 
incentives. Championed by my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Fawell), the retiring chairman of the Subcommittee on Employer-
Employee Relations, this initiative will likely be Mr. Fawell's last to 
become law in his distinguished 14-year career in the U.S. House of 
Representatives.
  The provision will help both colleges and older faculty by allowing 
the institution to offer additional benefits to professors as an 
incentive to voluntarily retire.
  As far as campus crime is concerned, we are fulfilling our promise to 
stress safety on our college campuses and have numerous issues in this 
legislation in order to make college campuses safer and make sure 
parents and students understand the problems on college campuses.
  Teacher training is near and dear to me. It focuses on improving 
teacher quality. It will not matter whether our pupil-teacher ratio is 
one to one or one to 10, if there is not a well-trained teacher in the 
classroom, that will not make any difference.
  The only difference it makes is that there are not 30 in there who 
may be under the influence of an unqualified teacher.
  Under this legislation, States will be encouraged to undertake a wide 
variety of efforts to improve the quality and ability of classroom 
teachers. We also have to get those quality classroom teachers where 
they are most needed. I would like to thank the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Graham) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for 
working together to create an initiative under this legislation that 
provides loan forgiveness for teachers who agree to teach in high-
poverty, urban or rural schools.
  The literacy provision is important. This provision will encourage 
students to become involved in their communities, help children learn 
to read by ensuring that colleges use more of their work-study dollars 
to fund these initiatives.
  I want to take a moment to thank the hard-working staff of the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce who shepherded this bill 
through many long days of negotiation and changes. In particular, Sally 
Stroup was very helpful to me in balancing the many interests that are 
represented in this bill. She, along with Pam Davidison, should be 
proud of our accomplishments today. George Conant was our point person 
on the National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education, whose 
report resulted in putting college cost accountability into high 
education for the first time in American history. Parents will be much 
better informed of how and why tuitions are rising.
  Vic Klatt was our orchestra leader on the bill, pulling together the 
strings, the brass, the percussion and certainly the wind section, 
there was a lot of that, so we all sounded well tuned and 
harmonious. Jo-Marie St. Martin, with the help of Linda Stevens, 
actually got this 800-page bill through the legislative process so that 
today we can send this bill to the Senate and then to the President for 
his signature.

  And Marshall Grigsby, Mark Zuckerman, Karen Weiss, Callie Cauffman, 
D'Arcy Philips and Sally Lovejoy for all the work they put into 
bringing this day to fruition.
  Let me just say that the legislation before us today is truly one of 
the most important things that we in the 105th Congress will do this 
year. I hope the press will spend some time writing about it instead of 
everything else that they write about.
  It will ensure that every American has access to a quality 
postsecondary education at an affordable price. This is a bipartisan 
bill that makes much needed reform to help students, parents and 
schools. I urge my colleagues to support the conference agreement.
  Vote yes on the conference report.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to supported H.R. 6, the Higher Education 
Amendments of 1998. It represents a significant step forward in 
increasing our Federal investment in higher education.
  Both the House and Senate have worked for over over a year to fashion 
legislation that I believe strengthens our country's commitment to 
higher education. When this bill is enacted, it will make a college 
education more affordable by significantly reducing student loan 
interest rates, by increasing Pell grant award levels, and improving 
the calculation of benefits for independent and dependent students.
  The bill adopts a number of measures that enhance support for 
minority and disadvantaged students by strengthening the TRIO program 
and other programs supporting historically black colleges and 
universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribally controlled 
colleges, and institutions serving significant numbers of native 
Alaskan and Hawaiian students.

                              {time}  1815

  This bill includes the High Hopes Program of President Clinton and 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah). This new program will 
greatly enhance the opportunity for low-income middle-school-aged 
students to dream of a college education.
  The bill also creates a major new effort to recruit and train 
teachers for our Nation's public schools. The new grant program 
provides for partnerships between States, institutions of higher 
education and local school districts, designed to increase the number 
of certified teachers available and to improve upon how those teachers 
are trained. Also included in that initiative is a loan forgiveness 
provision designed to attract the best and brightest to our classrooms.

[[Page H9153]]

  This bill will also allow the Department of Education to strengthen 
and improve the way it administers all of the student financial aid.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on 
the conference report on the Higher Education Amendments of 1998.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McKeon), the subcommittee chairman who worked long and 
hard to bring this legislation to the floor.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this 
time, and I rise in strong support of the conference report to H.R. 6, 
the Higher Education Amendments of 1998.
  It is hard to believe that it has been almost 2 years since the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dale Kildee), the ranking member on my 
subcommittee, and I sat down to begin the reauthorization process. At 
that meeting we agreed that we would work together to develop 
legislation that would make college more affordable, simplify the 
student aid system, and stress academic quality. By adopting this 
conference report, we will accomplish those goals.
  This legislation would not be possible without the remarkable 
bipartisan, bicameral spirit of this conference committee. I am sure 
that some are surprised that this Congress, in this political 
environment, would be able to produce a conference report of this 
magnitude.
  I would first like to thank the chairman of the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Bill 
Goodling), for his support and leadership on this important 
legislation. Additionally, the full committee ranking member, the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Bill Clay), along with all members of the 
conference committee, including the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tom 
Petri), the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Lindsey Graham), the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mark Souder), the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. John Peterson), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Clay 
Shaw), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dave Camp), the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Jim Talent), the gentleman from California (Mr. Marty 
Martinez), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rob Andrews) and the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Sander Levin) and their staffs deserve a 
great deal of thanks for their hard work and dedication.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ruben Hinojosa) 
and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Chaka Fattah) for their hard 
work and amendments that they worked on, that I did not always agree 
with, but I appreciate the effort they put forth and the great work 
that they did.
  And the members of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, 
including ranking member Ted Kennedy, Dan Coats and Christopher Dodd, 
should be recognized for their commitment to getting this conference 
completed. And in particular Jim Jeffords, the chairman, because he was 
always willing to work directly with me in putting this conference 
report together.
  I would like to stress how thankful I am for the commitment of the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) to this legislation. Whenever a 
problem would arise, we would simply call the other in order to work 
out a solution.
  This legislation is one of the most significant things this Congress 
will do for students and their families this year. It will bring us 
closer to my goal of ensuring that every American who wants a quality 
education at an affordable price will be able to get it.
  As many of my colleagues know, one of the biggest challenges we faced 
during this reauthorization process was saving the student loan 
program. The scheduled change in the interest rate jeopardized access 
to private capital for students. After working extensively with all 
parties involved, the student groups, the higher education and lending 
communities, and Republican and Democrat Members of Congress, we found 
a solution that keeps student loans available for all students and 
provides current students with the lowest rates in 17 years.
  Further, more Americans will be able to afford college through 
meaningful changes to the financial need analysis formula. These 
changes focus more resources towards the students with the greatest 
need and provide students with greater incentives to work and save for 
college.
  The legislation before us will simplify the student aid system by 
bringing it into the next century. It will create a performance-based 
organization within the Department of Education that is focused on 
providing quality service to students and parents. For the first time, 
the department student financial aid systems will be run like a 
business, adopting the best practices from the private sector and 
focusing on bottom line results. Parents and students deserve a modern 
student aid system that meets their needs. This legislation will give 
the Secretary the tools he needs to provide it.
  Additionally, H.R. 6 revises the guaranty agency system by changing 
the financing structure to give these entities the flexibility they 
need in order to use the latest private sector business practices, 
operate more efficiently, ensure program integrity and, most 
importantly, provide real savings to the Federal Government.
  Furthermore, H.R. 6 contains provisions that implement a number of 
recommendations of the National Commission on the Cost of Higher 
Education. One of these provisions requires the Secretary to make 
available all information on each school's tuition, price and price 
increases. As a result, students and parents will be able to make more 
informed choices about the schools they choose, and colleges will be 
held more accountable for cost increases.
  It is important to note that this legislation is paid for. I want to 
personally thank the Speaker, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Gingrich), and the chairman of the Committee on the Budget, the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kasich), as well as the majority leader, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey), and David Hobbs from the staff of the 
gentleman from Texas, for their hard work and support in making this 
solution possible.
  In conclusion, I want to take a moment to recognize the outstanding 
staff members who have made this legislation a reality: George Conant, 
Pam Davidson, Vic Klatt, Sally Lovejoy, D'Arcy Philps, Jeff Andrade, 
Steve Cope, Margot Schenet, and from my personal staff, Karen Weiss and 
Bob Cochran. But the one person who deserves the most thanks is Sally 
Stroup, because without her leadership and expertise, we would not be 
here today.

  With Washington divided on partisan lines on so many issues, it is 
remarkable to bring together congressional Republicans, Democrats, 
student groups, educators and the financial community to gain consensus 
on this higher education bill. The bipartisan support for H.R. 6 was 
evident when the House originally passed the bill on a 414 to 4 vote; 
then when the Senate passed it 96 to 1.
  We can complete the legislative process today by adopting this 
conference report and sending it down to the President. So I urge my 
colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Higher Education Amendments of 1998.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Hinojosa).
  (Mr. HINOJOSA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for H.R. 6, the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 conference report.
  As a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, 
and Chair of the Education Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus, I can say without reservation that this is one of the single 
most important pieces of legislation Congress will vote on for students 
and families this year.
  Simply put, H.R. 6 will go a long way towards strengthening higher 
education for the next century. This bill will expand postsecondary 
education opportunities for low-income individuals and increase the 
affordability of postsecondary education for middle income families.
  Included in the reauthorization conference report are provisions of 
my own bill, H.R. 2495, the Higher Education for the 21st Century Act. 
One of the reasons I came to Congress was to effect the very type 
change this bill will

[[Page H9154]]

accomplish for a deserving segment of the population that has been 
overlooked for far too long.
  I am proud to say that through the combined efforts of the 
Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Goodling), the ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Bill 
Clay), Secretary of Education Dick Riley, the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Buck McKeon), and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dale Kildee), 
the bill we have before us today will create a new and separate title 
for Hispanic-serving institutions, well over 100 colleges and 
universities across the country with an undergraduate enrollment at 
least 25 percent Hispanic.
  It will increase the authorization level for HSIs to $62.5 million, 
funds that can be used for construction of new classrooms, 
laboratories, libraries, the purchase of books and periodicals, 
technological improvements and, most importantly, improving and 
expanding graduate and professional opportunities for Hispanic 
students. And, yes, H.R. 6 will also improve teacher quality, 
preparation and improvement.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask for the support of all my colleagues to pass the 
bill on behalf of every American who wants to pursue a higher 
education.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New Jersey (Mrs. Roukema), an important member of the committee who is 
always helping us with education issues.
  (Mrs. ROUKEMA asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this 
time, and I must say, with others who have already spoken, that this is 
one of the most significant bills that we will be passing in this 
Congress, without a doubt. I must say so because these are the issues 
that count with the American people.
  To be competitive in the global economy, we need to provide our 
country's youth with the means to a better education. It is the essence 
of the American dream. And that is what we are looking at here today. 
This is the legislation that will enable young people across the Nation 
to have the skills and the good jobs at good wages that they need.
  I might say this has always been, as the chairman has said, one of my 
favorite subjects on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. And 
there have been lots and lots of good things said about this, but I 
want to stress at least two issues that I have particularly focused on 
in this, and that is the student loan interest rate issue. It at first 
was controversial, but we were able to work it out. And I believe that 
we worked it out and resolved the potential crisis of the loan interest 
rate issue very, very well. We are helping students while they can save 
the cost of higher education.
  I am speaking here wearing really two hats, as a member of this 
committee and also as the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Financial 
Institutions and Consumer Credit of the Committee on Banking and 
Financial Services, so I know the issue from both sides of the coin. 
And this legislative fix is necessary to ensure the banks do not leave 
the market, and yet at the same time provide the students with a lower 
interest rate than would have been necessary before.
  I also want to point out, as a continuum of our reforms on scam 
schools, that we are now including the Pell Grant program in the 
reforms. So that those students who receive Pell Grants will not be 
taken in by scam schools and, at the same time, the money will go back 
into the revolving fund so that it will help more students get the 
access to the schools that they need.
  I must also make the point that there are child care provisions here 
which many of us worked on, and I think they are all good, particularly 
for those who have young children and want to go back and complete 
their education.
  In conclusion, I must say that these are the issues that count with 
the American people. Let us pass this conference report and continue 
keeping education as the essence and put these young people on the road 
to the American dream.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Higher Education 
Conference Report that we have before us today.
  This bill is one of the most significant bills we will complete this 
Congress, and we are doing this with bipartisan support! These are the 
issues that count for the American people.
  To be competitive in the global economy, we need to provide our 
country's youth with the means to better their education. This is the 
essence of the American dream.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the legislation that will enable young people 
across this nation to obtain the education they need to develop their 
skills so that they may get the good job at good wages. In this 
exchange, our students get the job, they want the roof over their head 
and America gets hard-working, productive members of our society.
  Among the many important provisions of this bill, are that this bill 
assures that the student loan program will be available for all 
families who need loans, encourages the provision of campus-based child 
care, cuts down on scam schools and works on the training of our 
teachers.
  It is a good bill that makes sense for today's students!


                    Student Loan Interest Rate Issue

  With this bill, I believe we have resolve the potential crisis of the 
federal student loan interest rate issue. The proposal in this 
legislation will help save access to higher education, while helping 
students save on the cost of higher education.
  I am speaking today wearing two hats. One--as a longtime Member of 
the Postsecondary Education Subcommittee. The other hat--I serve as 
Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions of the 
House Banking Committee.
  So I know this program from both sides--so to speak.
  This legislative ``fix'' is necessary to ensure the banks do not 
leave the market, and to provide students with a lower interest rate.

                           Pell Grant Reform

  Clearly, one of the biggest problems facing students today is the 
cost of higher education. While we must do everything we can to put 
higher education within reach of every student, we also must do 
everything we can to ensure to protect our scarce resources--to ensure 
that they are not misused or wasted or squandered.
  With this in mind I (along with Representative Bart Gordon of 
Tennessee) introduced a provision that is now a part of this Higher 
Education Act package which prevents a postsecondary school from 
participating in the Pell Grant program if that school is already 
ineligible to participate in the federally guaranteed student loan 
program because of high default rates--these are the SCAM schools--
  This will recover millions of dollars currently being squandered and 
instead put that money to work with hard-working students at legitimate 
schools!

                               Child Care

  This conference report includes an amendment I offered at Committee 
to help society with today's child care problems. This problem is 
especially great for men and women who want to further their education 
to make a better life for them and their family. This is near 
impossible to achieve when reliable, quality child care is not 
available.
  We need to help students solve the child care problem. And we need to 
give institutions the means to put their proposals to the test. This 
bill helps us do that!

                               Conclusion

  For all of these reasons, and many others that I do not have time to 
discuss today, this legislation is critical to all students.
  Let's pass this conference report, and continue education as the road 
to the American dream!
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Kildee).
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  This conference report on H.R. 6, the higher education bill, is the 
culmination of almost 2 years of bipartisan work on behalf of students 
and parents across this country. When we first started this process at 
the beginning of last year, the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) 
and I set out to produce a bill that would enjoy widespread support. We 
decided to meet at least once a month for breakfast, without staff. And 
although this made our staffs very nervous, our breakfast meetings 
helped smooth out the rough spots and kept us moving with a truly 
bipartisan spirit. The gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) is truly 
an outstanding lawmaker. In light of our understanding that this bill 
was too important to be bogged down in bipartisan differences, we both 
had to give ground and to compromise.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud of this bill and I am especially grateful for 
the

[[Page H9155]]

hard work of all our staffs in getting us to this day. On the 
Republican side I want to acknowledge the excellent work of Bob Cochran 
and Karen Weiss of the personal staff of the gentleman from California; 
and Vic Klatt, George Conant, Pam Davidson, Sally Lovejoy, D'Arcy 
Philps, Lynn Selmser, and David Frank of the committee staff.
  And I want to offer my special to Sally Stroup, who put her heart and 
soul into this effort. Her expertise and thoughtfulness were essential 
to making this process work.

                              {time}  1830

  On the Democratic side, I want to thank Callie Coffman of my staff 
and Chris Mansour of my personal staff, and Mark Zuckerman, Marshall 
Grigsby, Peter Rutledge, Alex Nock and Gail Weiss of the committee 
staff.
  Finally, I would like to thank my former staff member and dear 
friend, David Evans. The contributions he has made to the formulation 
of this bill deserve our collective gratitude.
  I would be remiss in not thanking the fine people of the 
Congressional Research Service, Jim Steadman, Margot Schenet, and 
Barbara Miles. Steve Cope in the Legislative Counsel's Office and Deb 
Kalcevic at the Congressional Budget Office did exceptionally fine 
work.
  For the millions who must borrow to help pay for college, we have 
sought to keep the cost of borrowing down. Under this bill, students 
will have the lowest interest rates in over 17 years. They will also be 
allowed to refinance their student loans at a lower interest rate. And 
next year the authorization level for the maximum Pell Grant will be 
$4,500, showing our concern that students have a heavy burden of debt.
  We have created a new campus-based child care program to assist low-
income parents in school, increased income protection for both 
dependent and independent students, and expanded the savings protection 
allowances. We strengthen the TRIO programs. We expand college work-
study. We simplify the Perkins Loan program. We revamp the State 
incentive grant program. And we establish a new gear-up program to help 
young people complete a high school education and go on to college.
  Because of this bill, an individual who enters teaching, remains in 
the profession, and teaches in a poverty high school could have a 
significant portion of their student loans forgiven.
  I am particularly pleased that this bill strengthens programs to 
support tribal, Hispanic-serving, and historically black colleges and 
universities.
  Most important, this bill is a reaffirmation that we in Congress 
remain deeply committed in a bipartisan way to expanding educational 
opportunities for all Americans.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson), another member of the committee for 
yielding time to me.
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman.
  I would like to announce that we have no gridlock in Washington on 
the Committee on Education and the Workforce. I think we have a 
committee that is very productive and I am very pleased as a freshman 
to be a part of it. I was very pleased and I want to thank the chairman 
for the chance that he gave me to serve on my first conference 
committee in Congress. I will always be grateful.
  I want to congratulate the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Goodling), the chairman, and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), 
the ranking member, for their leadership, and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McKeon) the subcommittee chairman, and the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for their leadership and their breakfast 
sessions. That is my favorite meal, so next year invite me.
  Also, I think we owe a great debt of gratitude to the staff. We may 
have argued now and then, but they do good work and I want to commend 
them here publicly.
  This act will ensure that college will be more affordable, with the 
lowest interest rates in 17 years. It will simplify the student aid 
system by using the same application no matter which program. It will 
improve academic quality, campus safety, and provide greater access to 
all aspects of higher education.
  Last week, we debated a bill that I struggled with. I do not often 
struggle, but I struggled with where we allowed more immigrants, high 
skilled workers, to be allowed to come into this country. That was a 
bill that companies begged for because they did not have the ability to 
expand and grow. The high tech, fastest growing companies in this 
country were struggling to hire those high tech workers that were 
needed, so we had to increase the immigrant pool.
  I view this as a partial indictment on our higher education 
community. But we in this bill have focused on this, and high skilled, 
technically trained workers are on a more even ground than they were 
before. In this country we need a combination of academic and 
technology. Through much bloodletting and compromising, H.R. 6 provides 
the opportunity for our Nation's youth to pursue their education, 
whether it is academic, technical, or a combination thereof.
  Also, the conference report adopts the House admonition to the 
department that higher education consists of not only traditional but 
also nontraditional opportunities, an incentive provision calling for 
proprietary school liaisons, and several provisions ensuring against 
fraud and abuse.
  An issue that has not been mentioned here tonight is a provision to 
fight drugs. I do not think there is any cause, in my view, that is 
more worthy than to help protect our young people in basic and higher 
education against drugs. This has a provision, if they are caught in 
possession or in selling, 1 year, they are out for a year; second 
offense, 2 years; third time, indefinitely. That is a lot tougher than 
the National Football League, because one of those players could be 
arrested today and they will be playing next Sunday.
  It also provides incentives for distance learning, the wave of the 
future. It gives the Secretary of Education the authority to waive 
certain Federal restrictions that prevent students from receiving 
financial aid for some types of distance education programs. It also 
gives the Secretary the authority to promote and study distance 
learning techniques that will expand student access to higher 
education. In my view, the higher education community in this country 
is way behind the technology curve in delivering educational 
opportunities through distance learning.
  It also will help those who serve our country. It exempts veterans' 
benefits from being counted against students when they apply for 
student loan subsidies. Previously, students receiving benefits under 
the Montgomery bill would have had their aid reduced.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Andrews).
  (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay) for yielding.
  I rise in strong support of this bill and urge its passage. Let me 
thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), the gentleman 
from California (Mr. McKeon), the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), 
and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for their leadership in 
this effort, for the staffs of the committee and the Members. And let 
me especially thank Audrey Williams and Edgar Ho from my office, who 
worked so very hard on this bill in making it a reality.
  I am especially pleased that among the provisions that I offered, the 
committee has seen fit to include four provisions which I think are 
very important:
  First, every student in America will know of their right to have an 
income-contingent loan, that is, to pay back their loan as a function 
of their income; so that, as their income rises, so will their payment, 
and if their income falls, so will their payment.
  Second, a student who cannot receive a loan from a private lender has 
his or her right reaffirmed as a lender of last resort to go to either 
a guaranty agency or the direct loan program or both, and I think that 
is very important.
  Third, I appreciate the fact that we have once again restored the 
incentive for private career schools, some of our very best job 
trainers, to train those who most need help in job training to move 
from welfare to work.

[[Page H9156]]

  Finally, I appreciate the fact that the committee has included very 
visionary legislation which permits colleges and universities to offer 
voluntary early retirement packages to professors throughout the 
country. This will save a significant amount of money for the higher 
education system. It will open up faculty slots for young professors, 
particularly young women and minority professors, and I believe it will 
inject new blood onto our campuses where it is needed most.
  I urge the passage of the bill. I look forward to the day when the 
President signs this bill, because I believe with that signature he 
will be widening even further the doors of educational opportunity for 
people throughout this country.
  I urge the passage of the bill.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Roemer).
  (Mr. ROEMER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I join in the accolades toward the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Clay), and the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) for their hard 
work and their coming together to put together one of the most 
important bills that this body will vote on.
  I also want to thank on my staff Gina Mahoney, who has done such hard 
work, and somebody who left our staff who the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Kildee) recognized, David Evans, for his hard work as well.
  Father Hesberg, who has been noted as a leader in America on 
education, religious and civil rights issues, once said, ``As education 
goes, so goes America.''
  Well, my colleagues, this bill puts education in the forefront and 
will help America get better and better. It does a number of things. It 
puts higher emphasis on academic quality. It emphasizes new ideas. It 
encourages regulatory simplification.
  I am proud of this legislation to support students across the United 
States in the best higher education system in the entire world. There 
are some 3,000 post-secondary institutions in this country consistently 
turning out some of the best scientists, some of the best lawyers, some 
of the best teachers, some of the best researchers and doctors in the 
entire world, and this will continue to make our higher education 
system the best, second to none, in the world.
  This bill reflects a number of priorities: The lowest interest rates 
since 1981 for our students, a revamped teacher training program which 
includes my alternative route certification bill, more choices for 
students when consolidating their loans, permits universities to offer 
early retirement packages to their faculty, provides regulatory relief 
to the nine colleges and universities in my district.
  I encourage bipartisan support for this bill to pass smoothly and 
swiftly through the United States Congress.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Woolsey).
  (Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I too am a proud member of the Subcommittee 
on Postsecondary Education, Training and Life-Long Learning, which 
crafted this reauthorization. And I can assure my colleagues that the 
Higher Education Amendments of 1998 make higher education more 
affordable for all students.
  The amendments also make education safer, particularly for women, 
because we have included grants to combat violent crimes against women 
on campuses. Mr. Speaker, 20 percent of college women will be victims 
of sexual assault at some time during their years on campus. These are 
our daughters, our sisters, our mothers. They should not have to learn 
in fear, and this bill invests in their safety.
  This conference report also includes a provision on prepaid college 
tuition plans. These plans let families lock in the cost of tomorrow's 
college tuition at today's prices. We need to get the word out so that 
families across the country can benefit from these well-thought-out 
plans.
  I am also pleased that we are supporting teacher training 
partnerships in this conference report. Partnerships for Professional 
Renewal, based on a successful program at Sonoma State University in my 
district, funds partnerships between teachers' training programs and 
local schools.
  I thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), I thank the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Goodling) and the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), for 
their bipartisan leadership on this reauthorization. They put the 
interests of students and families first. We can be proud to vote for 
the Higher Education Amendments of 1998.
  The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) is perfectly correct, 
this is a good-news day and it should be reported.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah).
  (Mr. FATTAH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), the chairman and my colleague, and the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), the ranking member, and all those 
who labored. Especially the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), 
Chair of the subcommittee, did a great job on this bill, working with 
the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), and the staff who have 
already been mentioned, but we all need to remember their very hard 
work that will make it possible for tens of millions of American 
families to be able to improve the life chances of their young people.
  This is a moment in which this Congress acts as statesmen more 
concerned about the next generation than the next election, and it is a 
moment we all can take pride in.
  I would like to refer, obviously, to the High Hopes 21st century 
initiative which has now been termed Gear-Up in this bill. But beyond 
the semantics, what it really means is that we are going to reach out 
to young people in 6th and 7th grade, more than a million of them, each 
and every year from this point forward in thousands of junior high and 
middle schools across this country, and let them in on a secret that we 
have all known for a very long time, and that is that college is 
available to them if they are willing to work hard enough to get there.

                              {time}  1845

  I would like to thank President Clinton for his embrace and support 
of this initiative. It was made possible because of the bipartisan 
support here in this House. Many, many of my colleagues, more than 200 
of them on both sides of the aisle, have been helpful in moving this 
initiative forward.
  I would like to point out the strong support on the conference 
committee, which I believe is indicative of the bipartisan support for 
this bill, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) and the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson) on the Republican side, and the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Kildee) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews) really 
shepherding this particular provision through the conference committee. 
A conference is simply an opportunity for the House and the Senate to 
meet and to arrive at a shared consensus about the direction of public 
policy. I think this conference committee and all that it embodies 
represents the best of public policy.
  This Congress indeed has a lot to be proud of, and I am happy to have 
played a part in the higher education amendments of 1998.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. McCarthy).
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
the conference report for H.R. 6. We certainly have heard everyone 
here, back and forth, saying what a great bill it is, and it is. It has 
been a pleasure in my freshman year, which is actually two years, but 
we are freshmen for a long time around here, to share in the work that 
everybody did.
  This is what should be getting through to the American people, that 
we are doing our work and we do care about certainly our young people 
out there. I commend everybody that put their hard work in, because we 
do care

[[Page H9157]]

about our children and we care about the future of our children, and it 
just goes to show that when you work in a bipartisan way, you can get 
things done.
  I am really pleased that H.R. 6 still includes many of the provisions 
of my bill, the America's Teacher Preparation Improvement Act. We know 
if we do not teach our teachers to be better teachers, our children are 
going to suffer. I think that is wonderful having that in there.
  I am also pleased that H.R. 6 includes legislation that the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Engel) and I introduced to protect consumers. H.R. 6 
requires the Department of Education to put out up-to-date information 
about financial aid scholarship scams on its web site.
  We wish we could have put even more into this particular bill, but, 
as always, there are restraints. But it represents a major step forward 
for making college accessible and affordable. I urge my colleagues to 
support it.
  We can make college affordable for every person in this country. That 
is our job, and we have taken a giant step towards that. I thank 
everyone so much.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  (Mrs. MORELLA asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in praise of the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Chairman Goodling), the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Clay) and all of the members of the conference committee on H.R. 6 for 
their hard work and their leadership. They deserve great credit for 
this thoughtful and carefully crafted bill that will increase access to 
a higher education for millions of Americans.
  For most Americans, student loans are the primary source of education 
funding. From the GI Bill to Pell Grants and the Stafford Loan Program, 
financial aid has enabled millions of working class families to send 
their children to college.
  This legislation will provide college students with the lowest 
interest rates for academic loans in 17 years. It expands the Pell 
Grant Program and also improves campus based aid programs like 
Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants. It improves teacher 
preparation and provides loan forgiveness for teachers who work in 
areas where the poverty rate is high. They have simplified the process 
of applying for student loans and there is more access to crime 
statistics and information to allow them to have an accurate picture of 
campus safety.
  I am particularly pleased that the conference report on H.R. 6 
includes legislation I introduced to expand access to a higher 
education for low income parents. My legislation, H.R. 3296, the 
College Access Means Parents in School Act, the CAMPUS Act, will enable 
more low income women to get a college education by providing campus-
based child care centers. The conference report authorizes $45 million 
for competitive grants to institutions of higher education for the 
establishment of child care centers on college campuses serving the 
needs of low income students.
  I do not have to tell you about the benefits of that, that when you 
motivate these parents and they have high quality child care, they will 
graduate faster with a higher grade point average. The good news is, as 
I mentioned, that students who have access to campus-based child care 
centers are more likely to stay in school and graduate than the average 
college student. What great preparation this is for them.
  Again, I want to commend the conferees, the staff and the leaders of 
the House Committee on Education and Workforce and the Senate Labor and 
Human Resources Committee for their excellent endeavors on the 
reauthorization of the higher education bill. I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  I would also like to just add a note of congratulations to us for 
having had the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Fawell) with us here in the 
House of Representatives because of the great leadership he has given 
to that committee and to all of the other committees, the Committee on 
Science also on which he serves with me, and the integrity and 
character he has bought to this House of Representatives.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield two minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Payne).
  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to add my congratulations 
to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), 
the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan) and the members of the 
conference committee for including many of the provisions in a bill I 
introduced, H.R. 3311, to improve international education programs in 
this final version of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
  As a member of the Committee on International Relations and the 
Committee on Education and Workforce, I know that in order to be 
competitive in this global economy, we must continue to encourage and 
support programs designed to educate our students in foreign languages, 
diplomacy and international affairs.
  Throughout the years, Title VI of the Higher Education Act has been 
extremely effective in helping colleges and universities reach that 
goal. The inclusion of Technological Innovation and Cooperation for 
Foreign Information Access Grants in the conference report of the 
reauthorization of the Higher Education Act enables institutions and 
libraries to engage in collaborative international education projects 
utilizing innovative technology. This kind of program is timely as 
universities and libraries are faced with escalating costs of access to 
international resources.
  This bill also allows the Institute for International Public Policy 
to expand the current Junior Year Abroad Program to permit summer 
internship experiences. And to assist in the cooperation of Federal 
support for the Minority International Affairs Program, this bill 
creates a seven member interagency committee on minority careers in 
international affairs. I am also pleased that the conferees have chosen 
to keep the international education program in its own separate title.
  Overall, I believe the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act 
will provide our Nation's students expanded access to a college 
education. By increasing the authorization of the Pell Grant award to 
$4,500, we help students afford the cost of college without having to 
rely on loans and increase their debt. I only encourage the Committee 
on Appropriations to meet this authorization level.
  The New Teacher Training Program included in this bill will increase 
the number of teachers who are trained in low income areas.
  Mr. Speaker, as I conclude, I would just urge my colleagues to 
support this bill for final passage.
  I only encourage the appropriations committee to meet this 
authorization level. The new teacher training program included in this 
bill will increase the number of teachers who are trained in low-income 
areas.
  This extra hand in our overcrowded low income area schools will 
enable school children to receive more one on one attention in the 
classroom. And the Gear Up program, based on Representative Fattah's 
and President Clinton's High Hopes program, will give students in low 
income areas the encouragement, the hope and the tools to go on to 
college. There are some concerns I have regarding the effects of some 
of the provisions of this bill on proprietary schools.
  However, overall this bill contains many valuable programs that will 
help our inner city and low income youth realize the dream of going to 
college and the student financial aid programs will help students make 
that dream a reality. That is why I will support this bill today and 
encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield two minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. As a 
freshman member of this body, the United States Congress, I lobbied 
hard to get on the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the 
Subcommittee on

[[Page H9158]]

Higher Education, and it was exactly for this evening and this purpose, 
to be able to stand up and proudly support an outstanding piece of 
bipartisan legislation that really goes to the hopes and dreams of what 
my life has been about.
  Growing up in western Wisconsin as a young student, my hope and dream 
was to be able to go on to school, go on to college. My father was a 
telephone repairman with five kids. He was in no position to be able to 
afford sending myself or any of my brothers or sister on to school. But 
for the existence of programs that are being reauthorized in this 
legislation today, the student loan program, the Work Study Program, 
expansion of the Pell Grant program, I in no way would have had the 
financial means to go on to school.
  Now representing western Wisconsin, a place that has five state 
universities and seven technical school campuses and a private college, 
this legislation represents to me the fact that many, many more 
students growing up in western Wisconsin will now have the financial 
ability to go on to higher education, which is really the underpinning 
of the great American dream and that which we cherish so much in this 
country.
  I commend the ranking members, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) 
and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), for the fine work they 
have done; the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) and the 
gentleman from California (Chairman McKeon).
  I also want to especially commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Fattah) for the hard work that he put in for the Gear Up for High 
Hopes Program, that he worked incredibly hard on, not only in the 
Committee, but with every member of this body, who he probably spoke to 
two or three times to get their support.
  This truly is an historic night, Mr. Speaker, an opportunity for us 
to encourage the rest of our colleagues to support what is probably 
going to be the shining example of the 105th Congress, of how we can 
bridge the partisan gap and come together and do what we think is in 
the best interests of this country and the future of our Nation.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield two minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel).
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, as a former member of the Committee on Education and 
Workforce, I rise today to state my strong support for this higher 
education the amendments conference report. If one goes down the list 
of all the goods things in this bill, increasing Pell Grants, lowering 
interest rates on student loans, strengthening direct loan and 
guaranteed loan programs, improving teacher quality, preparation and 
recruitment, making needs analysis more fair and reasonable, 
establishing the Gear Up Mentoring Initiative, strengthening TRIO, the 
historically Black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions, we know 
we have a really, really good bill.
  I am also thankful that my bill, which requires the Department of 
Education to directly link its web site to free data bases of accurate 
information concerning scholarships, fellowships and any other 
financial aid information, is also included in this conference report.
  I introduced this bill with my good friend and colleague, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) back in April of 1997. Our 
provision within the conference report is vital in not only empowering 
parents and students, but in preventing fraud.
  In September of 1996, the Federal Trade Commission began its 
investigation, Project ScholarScam, into unscrupulous companies that 
preyed on American families' anxieties about how to finance their 
children's college tuition.
  These scholarship scams guaranteed or promised scholarships and 
grants in exchange for advance fees. Once these fees were collected, no 
scholarships or grants were ever provided. Sometimes these companies 
would ask for a student's checking account to confirm eligibility, then 
debit the account without the student's consent. American families by 
the thousands were defrauded and student's hopes were disheartened.
  Currently my daughter is a senior in high school and I for one know 
firsthand the difficulties in meeting the skyrocketing costs of higher 
education. Our provision is a major step forward in preventing future 
scholarship scams and is a vital tool in empowering parents to look for 
creative ways to finance a college education.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 6, and I commend all the people 
involved, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McKeon) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Goodling).
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield two minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Scott)
  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the conferees for producing 
a conference report which will serve as a foundation for a stronger 
system of higher education in this country.
  More students will be able to afford a college education due to the 
lower interest rates on new loans and the increase in Pell Grant 
levels. We also target middle school students through the new Gear Up 
Program, which encourages colleges to provide students with information 
on college opportunities as well as mentoring and tutorial programs so 
they will be prepared to enter college after high school.
  I am also pleased that the conference report retains provisions that 
I offered during committee deliberations. One will help students with 
high child care expenses qualify for student aid, and another provision 
rewards colleges for effectively collecting overdue loans.
  At the same time, I have concerns about provisions in the conference 
report that may adversely affect Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities. The conference report only extends the current exemptions 
that those schools enjoy for one year, whereas the Senate version would 
have extended it for four years.
  There is also a new provision which jeopardizes Pell Grants for 
students who attend schools with high default rates, many of which have 
high default rates because of open enrollment practices.
  While I support the conference report, I hope the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce will be able to revisit these issues which 
are critical to the survival of schools which offer opportunities to 
those most in need. On balance, however, Mr. Speaker, there is no 
question that this bill represents a major step forward and should be 
approved.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take just a moment to recognize a friend 
and a colleague on the committee who is retiring from Congress after 14 
years of service to his constituents and to the House of 
Representatives.

                              {time}  1900

  I have served with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Fawell) on the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce since he first came to 
Congress. In the years that we have worked together, I have known the 
gentleman to be a committed and tireless member of the committee, a 
member who could be counted on to fight in the legislative trenches, 
but who was also able to work in a bipartisan manner to craft 
legislation to better the lives of working Americans.
  From his leadership on health care and pension matters to his efforts 
to improve productivity, safety and health in the workplace and his 
overall philosophy that there should be a level playing field between 
labor and management, the gentleman from Illinois has been at the front 
lines in all of the major workplace policy debates in Congress.
  I know that my colleagues will agree that the gentleman is renowned 
in the House, among other things, for his expertise in labor, health 
care and pension law. In committee, the gentleman was also known for 
taking excellent notes during hearings and markups. Many of my 
colleagues gained a great deal of their knowledge over the years by 
picking over his shoulder while he wrote.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Fawell) has been a 
valued member of our committee and of the

[[Page H9159]]

House as a whole because he always fought for what he thought was 
right, he never compromised his principles, and he always kept his 
sense of humor. He always made sure he knew more about the matter at 
hand than his opponents.
  Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for all of my colleagues when I say to 
Harris, we will miss working with you, we will miss the benefit of your 
knowledge, your energy, your persistence, your attention to detail, and 
your good humor. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for Congress 
to do the people's work without the knowledge and commitment of Members 
like Harris Fawell.
  Harris, we wish you well in whatever future activities you have 
planned, and I am certain that you and your family will enjoy life 
after Congress, and I am told there is life after Congress, although I 
do not want to find out just yet. It is us who will not enjoy it quite 
as much because you will not be here.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Fawell).
  Mr. FAWELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Goodling) very much. His friendship and leadership over 14 years, and 
it does not seem like 14 years, means a great deal to me. I cannot 
think of anybody who has as much moral authority to speak on 
educational matters than the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) 
who was a teacher and a principal all of his life. He has stood for 
quality education, and I hope the gentleman continues to serve on and 
on here. The gentleman is doing obviously a tremendous job.
  My congratulations on what has been accomplished here in regard to 
having this Higher Education Amendments Act finally passed. So many 
people put so much time in on it. My comments were meant only to refer 
to a bipartisan provision in Part D of Title IX that allows age-based 
voluntary retirement incentives. It was based on a piece of legislation 
that I had, and I am glad that that is a part of the bill, because I 
think it makes it a little bit better perhaps, adds more quality in the 
bill, and it is a quality bill.
  I do want to just say ``thanks'' to all of my colleagues on the 
committee, and I still think of it as the Committee on Education and 
Labor. It really is education, labor, pension and health. But that 
extends also to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) on the other 
side of the aisle. We have differed at times in regard to how we view 
legislation, but I would never question the commitment and the intent 
of the good mind of the gentleman from Missouri, and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McKeon), who did so much in shepherding the Higher 
Education bill.
  The other day I was defending Congress and they said, well, there are 
no longer any Mr. Smiths who come to Washington or Mrs. Smiths, or Ms. 
Smiths. And I said, oh, yes, there are. And they said, who? And I was 
caught right there, and right away the name of the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McKeon) came to mind. I said, there is a guy without 
guile; he works hard, he is an intelligent man, he gives an awful lot, 
we are lucky to have him.
  Mr. Speaker, we are lucky to have an awful lot of Members in this 
Congress. Ninety-nine and nine-tenths percent of the men and women here 
are fantastic people, and we are backed up by staff that do so very, 
very much.
  Let me just sneak in one other comment. People think that Washington 
is kind of a creepy place, at times. Let me tell my colleagues, there 
are so many awesome good young people who are our staff, and not just 
on this committee, but elsewhere, that I stand in awe of the young 
people that I see coming along. I am in my third generation with 
watching my own generation, watching my children's generation, and now 
watching my grandchildren, and I report to my colleagues, this country 
is in good shape, because the young people I see coming along with each 
generation are just that much better than their predecessors.
  So I leave Congress with a lot of good feelings, knowing that the 
City of Washington is a very fine place to live and to work, and I 
shall miss you all. By golly, I shall miss you. I may creep back here 
once in a while to give you some advice, but I thank you for all the 
tremendous help that so many of you have given to me. I do appreciate 
it.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson).
  Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I quickly would like to 
share my admiration for the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Fawell). I 
have known him less than 2 years, and he is somebody in Congress that I 
admire greatly. His district in Congress and the small business 
community is going to miss him.
  The gentleman has a clear, thoughtful voice, a deep understanding of 
the issues, and the gentleman brings a passion to the debate. The 
gentleman has the zeal of a freshman and the wisdom of a long-term 
Member. The gentleman's arguments are very pragmatic and thoughtful, 
whether it is modernizing archaic labor laws or fighting for affordable 
health care for small business, and he has a passion for that.
  Mr. Speaker, Harris Fawell is the kind of Member I hope to become.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McKeon).
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I have been here now 6 years and I have been able to 
serve with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Fawell) for that whole 6 
years, and the last 4 years we have served as subcommittee chairmen 
together. We have a meeting about once a month at 7 o'clock in the 
morning and the full committee chairman and the subcommittee chairmen 
all get together, and during that time I have gotten to know the 
gentleman. I have gotten to know his integrity, his sincerity, his 
devotion that he brings to the cause, and I have never heard him say 
one negative thing about another person, on either side of the aisle. I 
have never heard him say anything disparaging. I just have the greatest 
respect for this man, and we really are going to miss him.
  I talked to him the other day and I said, ``I do not know who is 
going to take your place; I do not know who knows anything like you do 
about ERISA.'' And I just want to say, Harris, we will really miss you. 
Thank you for all you have done for the country.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to 
merely thank again all of those who made this evening possible. But I 
want to go a little bit beyond that. Every now and then I hear reports 
that is a ``do-nothing Congress.'' Well, I want to tell my colleagues a 
little bit about this committee. It is anything but a do-nothing 
committee.
  Just to tick off a few off the top of my head, we reauthorized IDEA 
Special Ed; we reauthorized Head Start, it is in conference; we 
reauthorized Higher Education; we passed Dollars to the Classroom; we 
passed Bilingual Reform; we passed the Testing Prohibition bill; we 
passed the Emergency Consolidation Loan Bill and bailed out the 
Department. We passed the National Committee on College Costs; we 
passed the Equitable Child Care resolution. We passed the Job Training 
bill for the 21st century. We authorized Vocational Education for the 
21st Century. We passed the Charter School bill; we passed the Reading 
Excellence bill; we passed the Juvenile Justice bill, and we passed the 
Child Nutrition bill.
  It does not sound like a ``do-nothing Congress'' to me, at least not 
a do-nothing committee. Can my colleagues imagine what these staff 
members have had to do during this entire time because of this 
tremendous agenda that we put forth from this committee. This is a 
``do-everything'' committee for the benefit of all, and particularly 
for young people in this country.
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
the conference agreement to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. For 
the last thirty years, the Higher Education Act has enabled countless 
Americans to pursue their dreams.
  One year ago, I held a forum in my district involving students, 
educators, and administrators to share their concerns and priorities 
about higher education. I am pleased that many of the issues addressed 
at that forum have been included in this reauthorization bill.
  Some of these provisions include: simplifying and streamlining 
students loans and providing the lowest interest rate on student loans 
in 17 years; increasing maximum Pell grant awards to $4500 next year 
and up to $5800

[[Page H9160]]

by 2003; continuing to provide long-term low-interest loans to almost 
800,000 students with financial need through the Perkins Loan program; 
readjusting the formula used to analyze financial needs in order to 
encourage students to work and save for their college education; and 
providing loan forgiveness for students who teach in low-income areas; 
and allowing historically black colleges and universities more 
flexibility in funding and expanding graduate programs through changes 
made in title III.
  I am especially pleased that the Campus-Based Child Care Act, on 
which I worked with Congresswoman Morella and other members, is 
included in this conference report. This will provide seed money so 
that colleges and universities may provide quality child care on 
campus. This is one of the most forward-thinking parts of this Higher 
Education Act and will allow many low-income single and working parents 
to attend college when they couldn't before--including many who will be 
making the transition from welfare to work.
  I congratulate the chairman, the committee, and the conferees on 
coming together to craft this reauthorization. I am happy to support 
the bill and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to commend Ranking Member 
Kildee and Chairman McKeon for all of their hard work on making this 
important legislation bipartisan. This bipartisan conference agreement 
on the Higher Education Reauthorization Act includes a number of 
important initiatives to increase access to college, lower the student 
loan interest rate, and prepare more students for college.
  Increasing access to quality higher education must be our nation's 
number one priority and this legislation helps us accomplish this goal. 
This legislation increases the maximum Pell Grant award $3,000 to 
$4,500. The Pell Grant is crucial to giving students the financial 
assistance they need to afford a higher education. The increased award 
level is important to keep peace with the increasing cost of a college 
degree.
  One of the biggest concerns I hear from students in western 
Wisconsin, is the growing debt burden they face upon graduation. This 
legislation will ease that burden and give more students an opportunity 
receive financial aid assistance, by lowering the student loan interest 
rate. The bill slashes the interest rate from 8.25 to 7.46 percent, 
which will save college students hundreds and thousands of dollars over 
their loan repayment period.
  This legislation also expands and creates initiatives designed to 
encourage students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue higher 
education. The highly successful TRIO outreach project is expanded and 
a new national effort called GEAR UP has been created to provide 
support services, mentoring and early intervention counseling to 
encourage students to strive for and attain an education beyond high 
school.
  I am pleased to support this bipartisan conference agreement, which 
will provide students in western Wisconsin with increased access, 
affordability and quality higher education.
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to have the opportunity to vote 
to help students go to college, and a vote for the conference report on 
the Higher Education Act Reauthorization is just that--a vote for 
students.
  This bill will lower interest rates on student loans, help 
disadvantaged middle school students prepare for college, improve 
preparation and training for teachers, and promote distance-learning 
through expanded student aid and partnership models that will reach 
more students. These provisions and others targeted at improving the 
efficiency and access of student aid programs will help make college 
affordable for more students, and make attending college a reality for 
more students.
  The bill has merit, but as the ranking Democrat on the Budget 
Committee I have to express my disappointment that Congress did not 
find a way to pay for these improvements. Because all costs are not 
offset according to the Office of Management and Budget, this bill will 
add to the PAYGO scorecard, expanding the sequester already in the 
cards for Fiscal Years 2001 and 2002 unless we take additional action 
before then.
  This bill is another example of Congress acting without a guiding 
budget resolution or plan. This is the first year since the Budget Act 
became law, a quarter century ago, that Congress has failed to pass a 
budget resolution conference agreement. The failure of this bill to 
contain offsets is partly a result of Congress's failure to do its job 
and pass a budget resolution. We want the benefits of improved public 
policies, but lack the fiscal discipline to pass a final Congressional 
Budget Resolution. The American public deserves a Congress that can 
deliver on our fiscal obligations, and the Republicans in this Congress 
are shirking that responsibility.
  Mrs. KENNELLY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support 
of this conference agreement on the Higher Education Amendments. I 
support this bill because it further expands the Pell Grant Program, 
provides the lowest student loan interest rates in nearly two decades, 
and addresses a new and exciting facet of education, distance learning.
  Last year, my colleagues and I worked very hard to increase Pell 
grant appropriations contained in this year's budget. This trend is 
continued in this bill, which authorizes significant increases to the 
largest federal student aid grant program available.
  This program is vital to my own state of Connecticut, where 69 
percent of all federal student aid to students is in the form of Pell 
grants. Unfortunately, in the past, funding for this program has not 
kept pace with the growth of tuition fees. While tuition in Connecticut 
has risen 110 percent since 1989, federal resources have increased by 
only 37 percent.
  This bill provides desperately needed resources to those who have 
demonstrated the ability and desire to achieve. It is a victory for 
those of us fighting to improve our higher education system, and 
fighting to make the opportunity of going to college a reality for 
every person in this country who desires to reach for it.
  With this bill today we are going to pass a comprehensive higher 
education program. I urge my colleagues to give the same support to our 
other important education initiatives, hiring 100,000 new teachers to 
reduce class size, and providing comprehensive school construction and 
modernization bonds. If students are to succeed, they must have the 
resources to meet the challenges of obtaining a quality education 
today. This bill provides them with that fighting chance.
  Mr. KLINK. Mr. Speaker, Chairman Goodling, and Mr. Clay, Chairman 
McKeon and Mr. Kildee and the rest of my former colleagues on the 
committee are to be congratulated for your good work on this 
legislation.
  In the larger scheme of things, H.R. 6 is good for the country and 
good for our future. Making higher education more accessible to 
students will make America stronger and more competitive in the global 
marketplace.
  This legislation will increase the maximum Pell grant, provide more 
funding for work study, increase resources for teacher training and 
rework the needs formula for student aid to target more money to those 
students with fewer resources to pay. It also reduces student loan 
interest to the lowest level in almost 20 years. All these things will 
increase access to higher education.
  I am also pleased that the conference report includes several reforms 
in student loan management that I have been working on for years, many 
of which were in my bill, H.R. 2140, the Federal Accountability and 
Institutional Reform in Education Act (FAIR ED Act).
  These common-sense reforms to the student loan program will reduce 
defaults, bring greater fairness and accessibility to the student loan 
program, save the Federal Government millions of dollars a year and 
allow schools to spend more time teaching and less time on education 
finance.
  H.R. 6 will help reduce student loan default rates by cutting the 
incentive that lenders and guarantors have to let a loan go into 
default. Currently, the Federal Government not only reimburses these 
agencies for 98 percent of every defaulted loan, but they also get to 
keep an additional 27 percent of whatever they collect from defaulted 
borrowers.
  H.R. 6 reduces those percentages to 95 percent and 23 percent, 
respectively. The bill will ultimately allow for recovery of only 118 
percent of a defaulted loan instead of 125 percent. My legislation 
would have limited reimbursement to 100 percent of any loan, but H.R. 6 
is a step in the right direction.
  H.R. 6 will also increase communication in the education community in 
order to reduce student loan defaults. It will require student loan 
servicers to contact the school before allowing a loan to go into 
default. Very often schools have more recent information on students. 
That information can lead to actual contact with the student, which can 
reduce the likelihood of the student's loan going into default.
  Furthermore, this legislation will prohibit guaranty agencies from 
requiring schools to pay a fee for student loan information. This 
information can help keep loans out of default and it should be 
available to schools without cost.
  In addition, H.R. 6 will help institutions serving at risk students 
by requiring the department to retain the eligibility of schools 
serving those populations, provided they meet specific graduation and 
job placement requirements.
  H.R. 6 will also allow for increased accuracy in default rates by 
removing students who defaulted loans but have been brought into 
repayment from the school's default rate.
  H.R. 6 will also establish parallel student repayment terms and 
conditions within the Federal Family Education Loan and the Federal 
Direct Student Loan Programs. This will provide for income-contingent 
repayment and loan consolidation options, which are currently

[[Page H9161]]

available under direct lending, but not in the FFEL Program.
  Finally, H.R. 6 will make several changes that were not in my 
legislation but will be good for students and educators. It fixes the 
onerous 85/15 rule by changing the requirement that 15 percent of a 
schools revenue come from non-Federal Title 4 sources to ten percent. 
The 85/15 rule is now the 90/10 rule and that is a good reform, 
especially for students and schools in low-income areas.
  H.R. 6 also provides for a liaison in the Department of Education for 
career schools. These institutions are training many of today's workers 
and they deserve a voice at the Department.
  Lastly, H.R. 6 will require that the Department publish the rules and 
regulations that students and schools must follow on time. If schedules 
are good for the students and schools, they should be good for the 
Department and they should be followed.
  I commend Chairman Goodling and members of the committee for a solid 
piece of legislation and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, good, quality and affordable education in 
post secondary institutions is a goal to which all of us should aspire.
  Our goal is to provide students with the tools they may use to pursue 
higher education by authorizing the maximum Pell grant award of $4,500 
in 1999-2000 with increases in subsequent years; a more student 
friendly formula for determining the amount of student financial aid; 
and a two-tier interest rate structure.
  In order to reach this goal, we must function as a partnership, at 
all levels of government and in the private sector.
  This conference report to H.R. 6, the Higher Education Amendments Act 
of 1998, achieves this goal.
  Furthermore, I recommend the conference committee for supporting a 
provision that I proposed in the House passed bill.
  This provision increases voter registration among college students 
requiring colleges and universities that receive federal funding to 
provide voter registration forms to students.
  Providing the opportunity of voter registration to students allows 
them to exercise one of their most fundamental rights.
  I am pleased that my colleagues also value the importance of 
involving the most mobile group of our country in the political 
process.
  Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this conference report to 
H.R. 6.
  Ms. DeLauro. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
Higher Education Amendments conference report. In today's world, a 
college diploma is the key to success. But the rising cost of college 
tuition puts that diploma out of reach for many American students.
  The Higher Education Act will help make the dream of a college 
diploma a reality for more families by making more financial aid 
available for some of our nation's neediest citizens. Students whose 
families earn incomes of $12,000 or less a year will be able to receive 
more financial aid through Pell Grants than ever before. The bill will 
also strengthen the formula which determines how much aid a student 
qualifies for, and allow young people to earn money and save for their 
education without being penalized by losing financial aid.
  I am particularly pleased that this conference report contains 
provisions for campus-based child care. Many people with young 
children, who want to attend college and build a better life for 
themselves and their families, find themselves unable to go to school 
simply because they can not find high quality and affordable child 
care. This important program will allow parents to attend college with 
the security of knowing their children are well care for.
  As a member of the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education 
Appropriations Subcommittee, I will work to ensure that this important 
program gets funding for fiscal year 1999, so parents can immediately 
begin to take advantage of campus-based child care.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Higher Education Act.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the conference 
report on H.R. 6, the Higher Education Amendments of 1998.
  I would like to begin by commending Chairman Goodling and Ranking 
Member Clay, and Subcommittee Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member 
Kildee, for their bipartisan leadership and their tireless effort to 
increase the accessibility and quality of higher education for all 
Americans.
  Over two years ago, Mr. McKeon and Mr. Kildee began the process of 
reauthorizing the Higher Education Act with four goals in mind: making 
higher education more affordable; simplifying the student aid system; 
promoting academic quality; and improving access to postsecondary 
education. The bill we have before us today goes to great lengths in 
achieving these goals.
  This conference agreement makes higher education more affordable by 
expanding the Pell Grant Program and nearly doubling the maximum Pell 
award over the next five years. It significantly increases the 
authorization for the College Work-Study program and nearly doubles the 
allowance for child care. It modifies the need analysis formula to 
encourage savings and allow students and parents to keep more of their 
money through increased income protection. It reduces new student loan 
interest rates to their lowest rate in 17 years and allows students to 
consolidate and refinance existing loans at a lower rate. Finally, the 
conference agreement requires the National Center for Education 
Statistics to conduct a study on the rising cost of tuition.
  This conference agreement simplifies the student aid process by 
creating a Performance Based Organization within the Department of 
Education to provide quality service to students and parents and to 
ensure that the student financial aid system is run in a professional, 
business-like manner. It also requires the Department to develop a 
single, more simple student aid application and a single, more simple 
promissory note.
  This conference agreement promotes academic quality by increasing 
institutional standards and providing assistance to those institutions 
that do not meet those standards. It also authorizes grants to states 
to improve teacher training programs and directs states to use a 
percentage of those grants to recruit quality teachers. Finally, it 
encourages qualified individuals to go into the field of teaching by 
creating a loan forgiveness program for teachers.
  This conference agreement makes postsecondary education more 
accessible to all Americans, particularly low-income and minority 
students. It increases the authorization level and scope of the TRIO 
programs and creates the GEAR Up program to allow low-income students 
to participate in early-intervention and college awareness activities. 
It also increases the authorization levels for historically black 
colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, and tribally 
controlled colleges. Finally, it creates grants to institutions serving 
a percentage of Native Alaskans and Hawaiians.
  I am particularly pleased with what this bill does for Hispanics. 
Previously, Hispanic serving institutions were buried in title III. 
However, as a result of this conference agreement, HSIs will have their 
own title and a greatly increased authorization level. No longer will 
the Department be able to ignore the importance of these institutions 
which will only continue to grow as the Hispanic community continues to 
grow. As a matter of fact, the Census Bureau projects that by 2050, 
Hispanics will make up 25 percent of the population. It is only fitting 
that this reauthorization recognize the significance of these 
institutions which will play an even greater role in educating future 
generations.
  For the above reasons, I strongly support this conference report and 
urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of this 
legislation which will reauthorize the Higher Education Act of 1965. 
With seven institutions of higher education in my district, this bill 
is of great importance to my constituents.
  While reauthorizing many existing programs this legislation 
establishes new programs which will provide low-income and 
disadvantaged students access to a college education. We are all aware 
of how important a college education is to our children who will be 
working in an increasingly global economy.
  We must prepare our children for the world they will face and 
increasing the maximum Pell grant levels each school year until 2003-
2004, providing low interest student loans, and expanding the work-
study program are all ways to provide an affordable college education.
  There are also a number of provisions included in this bill which 
will help to improve the recruitment and quality of the teachers we 
entrust with our children. It achieves this by granting states the 
ability to reform accountability and certification requirements for 
their current teachers and provides loan forgiveness for teachers who 
choose to go to low-income areas to teach. We must provide all students 
with a quality education if we expect them to succeed.
  There is also an important provision which provides $5 million for 
fiscal year 1999 for a new grant and award program which would 
encourage colleges to establish alcohol and drug abuse prevention and 
education programs. I believe that other institutions should follow the 
lead of the University of Illinois and its Alcohol 101 program to help 
deter the increasing use of drugs and alcohol on campus.
  Along with the drug and alcohol provisions there is also an incentive 
to help keep our children safe by requiring administrators and 
institutions to submit campus crime statistics to the Secretary of the 
Department of Education. It is important that parents have accurate 
records of the amount and types of crimes taking place. There are also 
grants, through the Justice Department, authorized to develop and 
strengthen effective security and

[[Page H9162]]

investigation strategies, along with victim services. It is very 
important that our children are protected while they are on campus.

  I am proud to vote for the legislation and am proud of the work this 
Congress has done to improve the education of the most essential people 
in this country--our children. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues 
to support this important legislation.
  Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, today the House continues a 
commitment made more than 40 years ago, that if you have the ability, 
but not the means, you can get a college education.
  I'm particularly pleased H.R. 6 will provide loan forgiveness to 
qualified teachers working at schools located in low-income areas. Many 
rural school administrators have told me they are having a difficult 
time attracting teachers trained in the sciences and mathematics. With 
these provisions, rural schools now be able to recruit such people and 
meet an ever growing challenge.
  We've all heard from students who were denied federal student aid 
because they earned too much in the summer or throughout the year. 
Fortunately, there are provisions in the bill permitting students to 
earn a bit more and still qualify for student aid. Specifically, the 
agreement increases the income protection allowance to $2,200, and 
adjusts it annually to keep pace with inflation.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the conference report. And, I congratulate 
Chairman Goodling and Chairman McKeon, ranking members Clay and Kildee 
for their good work.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the conference report for 
H.R. 6 includes many provisions that I have long supported, and which 
are very important to my constituents on Long Island. I am especially 
pleased that the bill increases the authorization for the maximum Pell 
grant to $5,800 by the 2003-2004 academic year. I also am pleased that 
we have taken action to ensure that the FFEL and Direct Loan programs 
can continue providing financial aid to students.
  As the sponsor of the America's Teacher Preparation Improvement Act 
of 1997, I have worked hard to ensure that the final version of H.R. 6 
makes a strong statement in support of teachers. I am delighted that 
the conference report includes many of the provisions of my bill, 
including: replacing 17 ineffective programs with a consolidated 
program; creating partnerships between education schools, school 
districts and community groups; funding grants to recruit new teachers, 
including minorities, veterans and people changing careers; helping 
teachers learn the latest technology; providing mentoring for teachers 
in their first years on the job; helping states recruit teachers for 
undeserved areas; and helping the education system toughen the 
standards for preparing teachers. These provisions will help ensure 
that every classroom has a well-prepared teacher.
  H.R. 6 also includes legislation that I introduced with Congressman 
Engel, H.R. 1440. Our bill ensures that students have reliable 
information about financial aid. While the Internet offer many 
legitimate scholarships, the World Wide Web also is home to scam 
artists who promise students financial aid--for a hefty fee--but don't 
deliver. H.R. 6 directs the Education Department to place information 
on its Web site about legitimate and fraudulent financial aid offers on 
the Internet.
  As an original cosponsor of H.R. 3293, the Women's Higher Education 
Opportunity Act of 1998, I am very pleased that H.R. 6 includes several 
provisions to help women students, including grants to help colleges 
and universities establish child care centers for students with 
children, and grants to combat violent crime against women on campus.
  Similarly, I am pleased that the bill incorporates provisions of H.R. 
715, the Accuracy in Campus Crime Reporting Act, legislation I 
cosponsored to improve safety on campuses. H.R. 6 expands the list of 
crimes that schools must report to the public, and requires 
institutions of higher education to keep daily logs of crimes reported 
to police or campus security. This will go a long way towards ensuring 
that students can learn in a safe environment.
  I was concerned that the House-passed H.R. 6 would have eliminated a 
separate authorization for the Jacob Javits Fellowship program for 
competitive grants for doctoral-level study in the arts, humanities and 
social sciences. I joined Congressman Payne to urge the conferees to 
maintain the Javits program. I am pleased that they did.
  Finally, H.R. 6 includes a new program which will help grade school 
students prepare for college, and ensure they can afford it. The GEAR-
UP program, based on legislation I cosponsored, H.R. 777, the 21st 
Century Scholars Act, lets young people know that higher education is a 
reality for them.
  As I said, this bill contains many provisions to make college more 
accessible. However, I am deeply concerned that one provision will 
actually make college less accessible.
  H.R. 6 eliminates schools from the Pell Grant Program if they are 
eliminated from student loan programs for having three consecutive 
years of cohort default rates over 25 percent. While supporters of the 
provision maintain it is needed to prevent fly-by-night colleges from 
defrauding students with Federal money, the reality is that this 
provision will cause many excellent schools that serve low-income 
populations to shut their doors.
  I would like to call my colleagues' attention to a recent GAO report 
which evaluated several studies of default rates. According to GAO, ``A 
key theme from these studies is that student loan repayment and default 
behavior are primarily influenced by individual borrower 
characteristics rather than by the characteristics of the educational 
institutions they attend.''
  We need to hold schools accountable. But we need to look very closely 
at the measurements we use to determine how well they are performing. I 
fear that the end result of this provision will be that many low-income 
students will not have access to a higher education. At a time when we 
are trying to move more people off welfare and into the workforce, the 
last thing we should do is make education unaffordable. This is a 
provision which I believe we will need to revisit next year.
  On balance, H.R. 6 makes huge strides toward making higher education 
accessible and affordable. And it is faithful to the spirit of the 
original 1965 Higher Education Act. I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, while I intend to support the conference 
report, I have concerns regarding Section 972. This provision would 
raise the Ginnie Mae Guranty fee by 3 basis points beginning in the 
Year 2004. Such an increase unduly burdens low and moderate-income 
American families, and there is really no financial justification for 
the increase.
  As you may be aware, Ginnie May guarantees payments to investors if 
private mortgage servicers are unable to make scheduled payments. 
Seviceers are charged a guaranty fee of 6 basis points for this added 
protection.
  I believe that increasing the Ginnie May guaranty fee would subject 
homebuyers to an unnecessary tax on homeownership. The measure would 
cost homebuyers hundreds of dollar at in additional expenses at closing 
and prohibit thousands of families from achieving the dream of 
homeownership.
  In addition, increasing the Ginnie Mae Guaranty fee have absolutely 
no financial basis. Recently, the independent auditor, KPMG, confirmed 
that Ginnie May is financially sound. In act, Ginnie May had a record 
profit of $601 million in 1997. In other words, Ginnie Mae's profit 
exceeded U.S. ticket sales or the movie, ``Titanic.'' In 1997 alone, 
Ginnie May collected a total of $326 million in guaranty fees. It paid 
out only $11 million in unreimbursed claims. From these statistics, It 
is apparent that Ginnie Mae does not need a financial boost from the 
increase fee.
  You should also do bear in mind that the Senate already rejected the 
Ginnie Mae Guaranty fee increase by a wide margin. During consideration 
of the fiscal year 1999 VA/HUD appropriations bill, the Senate voted to 
take the Nickles amendment by a margin of 69-27. The Nickles amendment 
would have increased the Ginnie Mae guaranty fee by 6 basis points. In 
light of this recent precedent, I see no reason why we should now 
accept this harmful provision.
  I am opposed to raising the Ginnie Mae Guranty fee. I believe it is 
bad public policy and will harm those low and moderate income families 
that the Higher Education bill is trying to assist. I think it was a 
mistake to include this provision in the conference report, and I hope 
that in the future, we make greater attempt to find out.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fossella). Without objection, the 
previous question is ordered on the conference report.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the conference report.
  The conference report was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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