[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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