[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 41 (Tuesday, April 4, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E502-E503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               COLLEGE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 30, 2006

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 609) to 
     amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965:

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, as a former teacher, mother, and 
grandmother, I rise in opposition to H.R. 609, the so-called College 
Access and Opportunity Act. H.R. 609 represents a major missed 
opportunity to make college more affordable and accessible, to boost 
America's economic competitiveness, and to invest in America's future.
  The Republican majority is bringing this bill to the floor just 2 
months after they passed the Budget Reconciliation Act, which slashed 
federal student aid programs by $12 billion. H.R. 609 does nothing to 
reverse this raid on student aid, nor does it do anything to make 
college loans more affordable. In fact, this bill freezes the 
authorized level of the maximum Pell grant scholarship. If this bill is 
passed, Pell grants would be frozen at just $200 above the current 
level until 2013. This would mean less money to help students go to 
school.
  With millions of American families struggling to pay for college, it 
is critical that Congress act to make college more affordable. I would 
like to share with my colleagues part of a letter that a constituent 
from Des Plaines, Illinois, recently wrote to me:

       My son who is out of college for 2 years, makes about 
     $30,000. His major was public relations, but could not get a 
     job in that field since he had no experience. So he finally 
     got a job in sales. Since he went to school in Iowa, we 
     consolidated his loans with an Iowa firm. His loans were over 
     $100,000. His monthly payment was about $500 [in addition] he 
     has the federal loans [amounting to] over $100. As of Feb. 
     6th he will pay over $700 a month for his private loan plus 
     his federal loans which will bring him over $850 a month. 
     This is for the next 20 years . . . I would like for someone 
     to tell me how does the government expect kids to be able to 
     make a life for themselves when the interest rates keep going 
     up on school loans? Why can't students have a lower fixed 
     rate?
       I also understand that when kids get out of college you are 
     figuring that you will be making enough money to pay their 
     loans. But what about the kids that aren't engineers, 
     doctors, or lawyers? What about those average kids who go to 
     college because they know in order to get a job these days 
     you need that degree but do not make large salaries and 
     barely make enough money to live. My kids are used to hard 
     work, for example, working two jobs. I guess I figured 
     that once you have that degree, it would be a little 
     easier to get a job. Obviously, that is not the case.

  This is just one of thousands of such stories. The members of the 
majority must be hearing them too. However, H.R. 609 contains little 
assistance for the millions of low- and middle-income families who 
continue to struggle to pay for college. Instead the majority chose to 
make tax breaks for the wealthy a priority over helping the next 
generation of Americans go to college.
  That is why I encourage all of my colleagues to support the 
Democratic alternative. The Democratic alternative would cut in half 
the student loan interest rate for borrowers who are most in need. The 
substitute also establishes a new Predominantly Black Serving 
Institution program, a new graduate Hispanic Serving Institution 
program and Minority Teaching Centers for Excellence to increase the 
number of highly qualified teachers, including minority teachers. The 
substitute provides for year-round Pell grants. It establishes a 
minimum grant of $500,000 for tribal colleges. It repeals the single 
lender rule, which requires student borrowers to consolidate their 
loans with their existing lender. Under the substitute, the borrower 
could choose which lender he or she wishes to use to consolidate loans.
  At a time when the United States needs to invest in innovation and 
education in order to compete in the 21st century, H.R. 609 leads us in 
the wrong direction. It will force many students to forgo college 
altogether. For many students, financial barriers are the principal 
factor that determines whether they will successfully complete college 
or not. American students need and deserve more affordable college 
opportunities, not additional barriers to achievement and opportunity. 
I literally shake my head in wonder at these counterproductive cuts. We 
should be increasing opportunities for Americans to further their 
education. The Republican majority has instead given us a shameful sham 
of a bill.
  I urge all of my colleagues to adopt the Democratic alternative and 
to oppose H.R.

[[Page E503]]

609, the ``Republican Missed College Opportunities'' bill.

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