[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H1324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HIGHER EDUCATION REAUTHORIZATION

  (Mr. KELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give the American people 
some straight talk on higher education. The Higher Education Act before 
Congress today will strengthen the Pell Grant program, expand Perkins 
student loans, and increase access to college for millions of worthy 
American students.
  The Democrat substitute is called, quote, reverse the raid on student 
aid. Don't believe the hype. Not one student in America will receive 
less financial aid under our bill. Not one.
  The heart of our bill is the Pell Grant program. Let's look at this 
chart to show the history of Pell Grant funding over 20 years. The 
yellow represents when the Democrats were in control of Congress. The 
red represents when Republicans were in control of Congress. Does that 
look like we have raided student aid to you? The last 3 years Democrats 
were in control of Congress, they had a Democrat House and a Democrat 
President and they cut Pell Grants every single year in a row.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people are sick and tired of partisan 
slogans and election-year double talk. This is a good bill. I urge my 
colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 609.

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