[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S1132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CHILDREN'S SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOP

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I want to take a few moments to turn our 
attention to an exciting and worthwhile project for America's young 
people: the Children's Scholarship Fund.
  Last June, two great Americans, concerned about the state of 
education in America, particularly about the way in which children of 
low-income families are often without educational options, founded the 
Children's Scholarship Fund with their own substantial private 
investments. I speak of Ted Forstmann of Forstmann-Little and Company 
and Gulfstream Aerospace and of John Walton of Wal-Mart Stores. Based 
on their firm belief that a child should not be denied educational 
opportunity because of his or her family's financial situation, these 
two citizens are improving the education of young Americans, and 
thereby improving the lives of all Americans.
  When Mr. Forstmann and Mr. Walton announced the creation of the 
Children's Scholarship Fund in June 1998, they began with programs in 
five cities. The demand and enthusiasm with which they were greeted was 
so overwhelming that scarcely three months later they joined with 
donors around the country to make scholarships available in forty three 
cities and three entire states. Now, only eight months after the launch 
of the Children's Scholarship Fund, low-income children throughout the 
entire United States are eligible for scholarships. As of today, the 
Children's Scholarship Fund is nationwide, and will provide 
approximately 40,000 scholarships worth nearly $170 million. All low-
income families throughout this country with children entering 
kindergarten through eight grade next fall may now be eligible to 
receive scholarships.
  On April 22nd, the names of the Children's Scholarship Fund 
scholarship recipients will be selected in a random drawing. Families 
must have submitted their completed applications no later than March 
31st to be eligible. I urge my colleagues to make a note of these 
important dates.
  In the meantime, I commend Ted Forstmann and John Walton and everyone 
associated with the Children's Scholarship Fund for the invaluable 
contributions they are making to improve the lives of so many of our 
young people. They set an example for all of us. The enormous public 
response to the Children's Scholarship Fund serves as an important 
reminder to those of us in Congress of the need to creatively expand 
educational opportunities for all of our citizens.

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