[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4057-S4058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 28--URGING THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT 
  TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE PELL GRANT PROGRAM AND EXISTING CAMPUS-
                           BASED AID PROGRAMS

  Mr. JEFFORDS (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. DeWine, Mr. 
Dodd, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Harkin, and Mr. Reed) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                            S. Con. Res. 28

       Whereas the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant Program, 
     now known as the Pell Grant Program in honor of Senator 
     Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island, was first authorized in the 
     1972 amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965;
       Whereas the Pell Grant Program has become the largest need-
     based Federal higher education scholarship program and is 
     considered the foundation for all Federal student aid;
       Whereas the purpose of the program is to assist students 
     from low income families who would not otherwise be 
     financially able to attend a postsecondary institution by 
     providing grants to students to be used to pay the costs of 
     attending the postsecondary institution of their choice;
       Whereas in the late 1970's, the Pell Grant covered seventy-
     five percent of the average cost of attending a public four-
     year college; by the late 1990's, it only covered thirty-six 
     percent of the cost of attending a public four-year college;
       Whereas families across the country are concerned about the 
     rising cost of a college education, and for children from low 
     income families, the cost of college continues to be an 
     overwhelming factor in their decision to forego a college 
     education;
       Whereas children from high income families are almost twice 
     as likely to enroll in college as children from low income 
     families;
       Whereas higher education promotes economic opportunity for 
     individuals and economic competitiveness for our Nation;
       Whereas the Pell Grant and Campus-Based Aid Programs target 
     aid to low income students as effectively as any programs 
     administered by the Federal government; and
       Whereas student borrowing to finance a postsecondary 
     education has increased to an average indebtedness of $9,700, 
     and therefore increased grant aid is more important than 
     ever: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress and the President, should, 
     working within the constraints of the balanced budget 
     agreement, make student scholarship aid the highest priority 
     for higher education funding by increasing the maximum Pell 
     Grant awarded to low income students by $400 and increasing 
     other existing campus-based aid programs that serve low-
     income students.

  Ms. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, ``Education is a social process . . . 
Education is growth . . . . Education is, not a preparation for life; 
education is life itself.''
  John Dewey, a distinguished Vermonter, philosopher and educator wrote 
these words decades ago, yet they ring true today. Education provides 
us with opportunities to explore, to experience, to grow, and to 
improve. Education is a great equalizer--it affords these positive 
opportunities to anyone who is able and interested in pursuing 
knowledge. Yet often times, young people in our country are discouraged 
from engaging themselves in learning because of financial hardship.
  It is with these thoughts in mind that I rise today to submit this 
Senate Concurrent Resolution--a resolution that calls on the Congress 
and the President to increase funding for the Pell grant program and 
for campus based student aid programs--programs that provide assistance 
to individuals with financial need to participate in higher education. 
I am pleased to be joined by Senators Collins, Kennedy, DeWine, Dodd, 
Hutchinson, Harkin and Reed in this effort.
  Last Congress we had a number of great successes in the area of 
education. Passage of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 is high 
on that list of important education bills that the Congress authored. 
With bipartisan backing and unanimous support, the Senate adopted the 
conference report to accompany the Higher Education bill. It is my 
belief that we achieved broad agreement on this bill because we all 
kept focused on the ultimate goal of crafting a bill that offered all 
our nation's students more opportunities to pursue post-secondary 
study.
  And in fact, as a result of this legislation, the window of 
opportunity for students has been opened wider than ever before. The 
Higher Education Amendments of 1998 lowered the interest rate for new 
students to the lowest level they have been in 17 years. It 
strengthened and improved grant aid and campus based programs. It will 
improve the delivery of financial aid for all students through the 
newly created performance based organization housed in the Department 
of Education. It invests in programs like TRIO and GEAR UP so that many 
more of our nation's young people who aspire to getting a college 
education will be able to pursue their dream. Finally, the bill 
reaffirms and strengthens the federal government's small but important 
commitment to graduate studies and will provide important support for 
our nation's neediest graduate students.
  In submitting this resolution today, we have taken another step 
forward in meeting the goals that we set out in the Higher Education 
Amendments of 1998. Our resolution follows the blueprint that was laid 
out during reauthorization. It follows up on the important work of 
Senator Collins who sponsored the Sense of the Senate amendment on Pell 
grants, campus based aid and TRIO that was included in the final budget 
resolution.
  As some of my colleagues may recall, in February I called for a $400 
increase in the maximum Pell grant. The importance of this program 
cannot be overstated--it is the cornerstone of our federal investment 
in need-based grant aid. It has helped millions of young people obtain 
a degree. The Pell grant has made a positive difference in the lives of 
individual students who received it and it had made a positive 
difference in the well being of our nation. Thanks to the Pell grant, 
more Americans have received a post secondary degree, the knowledge 
base of our nation has been expanded and the earnings base of our 
nation has increased.

  Our resolution also calls on Congress and the President to boost 
funds for other programs that complement the Pell grant and provide 
needed supplementary aid to our nation's neediest students. The campus 
based programs are targeted to provide additional assistance to 
students who really need it the most. These funds often times make the 
difference for a student between making it through school or dropping 
out. Therefore, our efforts today in support of these programs are 
critical.
  It is my hope that we will be able to work together, in a bi-partisan 
fashion,

[[Page S4058]]

as we did during consideration of the Higher Education Act and pass 
this resolution. It is my hope that in adopting this resolution, it 
will bring us one step closer to adopting higher levels of funding for 
these important programs. In funding these programs at a higher level 
we will be making the dream of college a reality for so many young 
people. We will be helping motivated and engaged young people to 
achieve to the full level of their potential.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in sponsoring this resolution.

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