[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 19, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H3232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HOPE SCHOLARSHIP REFORM BILL

  (Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I am proud to join with the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Camp) in introducing the HOPE Scholarship reform 
bill.
  In April, the Institute for Higher Education Policy issued a report, 
``Rhetoric and Reality: Effects and Consequence of the HOPE 
Scholarship.'' The report concluded, quite simply, that low-income 
students and students from low-income families do not qualify for the 
HOPE Scholarship.
  It stated that if educational costs to the student beyond tuition and 
fees could be considered for the HOPE Scholarship, and if low-income 
students were not penalized for receiving other grants, then more low-
income students could enjoy the full benefit of the HOPE Scholarship.
  Our bill addresses these exact issues. Our bill ensures that students 
are not penalized for receiving Pell Grants or SEOG grants. It also 
ensures that the costs of required fees, books, supplies and equipment 
can be included as part of the eligible HOPE Scholarship expenses. Our 
bill expands access to higher education, it expands opportunity to 
higher education, and it expands the affordability of higher education.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the HOPE Scholarship 
reform bill.

                          ____________________