[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 4, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION FOR FREEDOM ACT OF 2003

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                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 2003

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Higher Education 
For Freedom Act. This legislation establishes a competitive grant 
program making available funds to institutions of higher education, 
centers within such institutions, and associated nonprofit foundations 
to promote programs focused on the teaching and study of traditional 
American history, free institutions, and the history and achievements 
of Western Civilization at both the graduate and undergraduate level, 
including those that serve students enrolled in K-12 teacher education 
programs.
  Several years ago I was involved in a congressional effort to 
highlight the decline in historical and civic literacy among American 
college students. This effort led to the unanimous, bicameral passage 
of a concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res. 129, which stated, in part, 
that ``the historical illiteracy of America's college and university 
graduates is a serious problem that should be addressed by the Nation's 
higher education community.''
  Given the increased threat to American ideals in the trying times in 
which we live, it is easy to see how the lack of historical and civic 
literacy among today's college students has become a more pressing 
issue. Nevertheless, most of the Nation's colleges and universities no 
longer require U.S. history or systematic study of Western civilization 
and free institutions as a general prerequisite to graduation, or for 
completing a teacher education program.
  I believe it is time for Congress to take a more active role in 
addressing this matter. Our country's higher education system must do a 
better job of providing the basic knowledge that is essential to full 
and informed participation in civic life and to the larger vibrancy of 
the American experiment in self-government, binding together a diverse 
people into a single Nation with common purposes.

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