[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY FOR A BETTER AMERICA ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 2003

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to submit, 
with sixty-three of my colleagues in the House, the College Opportunity 
for a Better America Act.
  Higher education has become more important than ever to ensure 
America's economic prosperity, national security, and health. Yet, 
swelling enrollments among low-income and working class families, 
massive state budget cuts, and rising tuition continue to strain our 
ability to ensure access to a college education for all Americans.
  As a result, increasing numbers of students and their families are 
relying on debt to finance their college dreams. Over the past eight 
years the typical student loan debt has nearly doubled to $16,928, with 
64 percent of students borrowing to finance their college costs. In 
addition, nearly two-fifths of all student borrowers graduate with 
unmanageable debt levels, and as a result, many may seek higher-
salaried positions rather than public service careers.
  At the same time, severe shortages of highly qualified personnel in 
many public service sectors, such as teaching, nursing, childcare, and 
child welfare, threaten the health and well being of our nation.
  According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the United 
States will need more than 2 million new teachers over the next 10 
years. In a recent report, the American Hospital Association found that 
there is a national shortage of 126,000 nurses; just as the number of 
nursing school graduates decreased by 29 percent between 1995 and 2001. 
In addition, the number of unfilled child welfare specialists is 
growing rapidly; while the nation's childcare programs are plagued by 
high staff turnover, fueled by poor compensation.
  We can no longer afford to ignore the growing shortage of a skilled 
public service workforce. We must invest in our recent graduates to 
enable more of them to pursue public service careers. The College 
Opportunity for a Better America Act would take an important step to 
filling shortages of highly skilled workers in the public service 
sector by providing up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness for graduates who 
enter teaching, child care, nursing, child welfare, and other high 
priority public service careers.
  In short, the Act would provide the financial means necessary to 
attract and retain a highly skilled public service workforce.
  America's higher education system has long served as a vehicle to 
achieve economic prosperity, national security, and an educated 
citizenry. From our nascent beginnings, when public education served as 
the means to equalize our society, to the National Defense Act of 
1958--which launched many of our federal student aid programs--we have 
used higher education as a tool to move this country forward.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this tradition 
by supporting the College Opportunity for a Better America Act. It is 
an important step to help fill America's critical public service work 
gap.

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