[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 157 (Thursday, December 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE REPUBLICAN RAID ON STUDENT AID

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2005

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support and 
in solidarity with America's college students and our Nation's higher 
education institutions. Our competitiveness in the global economy is 
built on the foundation of a highly educated workforce. My Republican 
colleagues feel financial aid for higher education is a privilege, not 
a necessarily for American students.
  The Republican strategy to cut and gut Federal financial aid by over 
$14 billion hurts students, hurts families and threatens America's 
competitiveness. Harming higher education harms America.
  The Republican raid on student aid makes the largest cut in the 
history of Federal student financial aid, while also increasing the 
deficit by $20 billion--adding more debt on the backs of hard working 
Americans and students.
  Tim McDonald attends Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Tim 
spoke eloquently to me last week against these cuts. Tim said:

       The generation that benefited from highly-subsidized, 
     affordable higher education is now pulling the ladder up with 
     them and forcing us to debt finance not only our own 
     education, but their tax cuts. . .

  I came to Congress to promote hope and opportunity. Vocational 
schools, technical schools and our colleges and universities provide 
America's scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, teachers, nurses, law 
enforcement officials--our future leaders, with the skills, knowledge 
and opportunity to keep America strong and prosperous.
  Republican priorities cut and gut the vital resources students depend 
upon to achieve their career goals and contribute to America. Instead 
of investing in students, instead of investing in America's future, 
this Republican scam forces students to pay the price for a mismanaged 
Republican budget.
  I ask my Republican colleagues to stand with us and students to 
protect America's economic future, to not abandon the next generation 
of American leaders and to defeat the cutting and gutting of hope and 
opportunity for millions of American students.

                          ____________________