[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 
                                  2003

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM COLE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2003

  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support, for 
H.R. 3039, legislation introduced today by my colleagues and myself to 
expand opportunities in our great nation's higher education system. I 
encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill 
and helping to increase access to postsecondary education.
  For nearly four decades, the Higher Education Act has provided 
opportunities to students throughout the nation as they worked toward a 
postsecondary education. Now, in the technologically-driven economy of 
the 21st century, a college education is more important than ever. 
That's why the bill I am offering is so important; it will help remove 
barriers and ensure students have the opportunities they need to meet 
their educational goals.
  The cost of college in America has risen rapidly over the past few 
decades, and this has made achieving the dream of a college education a 
difficult proposition for many students. However, though college costs 
are a significant impediment for many aspiring college students, they 
are but one of many unnecessary barriers to a college education in 
America. Expanding opportunities for students by removing these 
barriers will help increase access to college.
  By encouraging innovative solutions such as distance learning and the 
use of advanced technology in the classroom, schools can provide non-
traditional college students with a better chance to succeed. I also 
believe addressing the needs of America's minority serving institutions 
must be a priority, because these valuable institutions play an 
essential role in providing opportunities for many students.
  There are several areas of particular importance in this legislation. 
Each of these provisions serves to break down barriers, remove 
obstacles, increase flexibility, and ultimately expand opportunities 
within higher education.
  This legislation allows for fair and equitable treatment of all 
institutions, removing the arbitrary rules imposed on some and not 
others and providing all institutions the ability to compete for 
federal grants and better serve their students.
  An additional unnecessary barrier in current law that is restricting 
opportunities for students and flexibility for schools is the so-called 
50 percent rule. This rule arbitrarily restricts the number of courses 
that can be offered and the number of students that can be enrolled in 
courses offered via telecommunications. While this outdated rule was 
implemented to provide safeguards, times have changed and technology 
makes online education an important tool in achieving success for many 
non-traditional students. This bill takes the important step of 
repealing the 50 percent rule, while maintaining stringent requirements 
for quality to ensure the integrity of distance education programs is 
monitored and maintained.
  The Expanding Opportunities in Higher Education Act also seeks to 
strengthen programs such as TRIO and GEAR UP which provide critical 
student support services. By providing these programs with the 
flexibility they need to meet the unique needs of the student 
populations they serve, programs such as these will expand 
opportunities and allow students to thrive.
  Though the legislation I am offering includes many more important 
reforms, there is one more area of particular importance that I would 
like to address. Minority Serving Institutions offer tremendous 
educational opportunity, and I'm pleased that the Expanding 
Opportunities in Higher Education Act would make important reforms to 
allow these institutions the freedom they need to help their students 
succeed in higher education.
  Like all institutions, Minority Serving Institutions must advance 
their technological capabilities with the changing times and 
advancement in technology. This bill would allow Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities and Tribally Controlled Colleges and 
Universities among others to use a portion of their funds to expand 
Internet capabilities and other distance learning capabilities, 
encouraging the use of advanced technology and expanding opportunities.
  The Expanding Opportunities in Higher Education Act builds upon the 
significant reforms for Minority Serving Institutions made in the Ready 
to Teach Act earlier this year. That legislation created a program to 
establish Centers of Excellence at high quality Minority Serving 
Institutions to strengthen and improve teacher training, expand 
recruitment of minorities in the teaching profession, and provide 
scholarships to help future teachers pay the cost of completing a 
teacher training program.
  Taken together, these and the many reforms in the bill will help to 
renew higher education and expand opportunities, helping millions of 
students and the institutions which serve them. I'm pleased to speak in 
strong support of this legislation, and encourage my colleagues to join 
me.

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