[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S10305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. CLINTON (for herself, Mr. Specter, Mr. Kennedy, and Ms. 
        Mikulski):
  S. 3958. A bill to establish the United States Public Service 
Academy; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
that will create an undergraduate institution designed to cultivate a 
generation of young leaders dedicated to public service. The U.S. 
Public Service Academy Act, the PSA Act, will establish a national 
academy, modeled after the military service academies, to serve as an 
extraordinary example of effective, national public education.
  The tragic events of September 11 and the devastation of natural 
disasters Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have demonstrated just how 
critical it is for our Nation to improve its ability to respond to 
future emergencies and to confront daily challenges. These events also 
underscore how much our Nation depends upon strong public institutions 
and competent civilian leadership at all levels of society.
  Our country must improve its ability to groom future public servants 
to fill the pipeline as the baby boomer generation approaches 
retirement from critical public sector careers. Recent studies have 
shown that 2 million teachers are approaching retirement this decade 
alone, and more than 80 percent of law enforcement agencies are unable 
to fill positions due to a lack of qualified candidates.
  The PSA Act will establish the U.S. Public Service Academy to provide 
a 4-year, federally subsidized college education for more than 5,000 
students a year in exchange for a 5-year commitment to public service 
following graduation. Academy graduates will help to fill the void in 
public service our Nation will soon face by serving for 5 years in 
areas such as public education, public health, law enforcement, and the 
nonprofit sector.
  Not only has the public service sector expressed a need for a young, 
talented, and high-qualified workforce, many college students today 
have already expressed a strong desire to serve. A recent study 
conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute found that more 
than two-thirds of the 2005 freshman class expressed a desire to serve 
others, the highest rate in a generation.
  Unfortunately, as thousands of American youth seek to serve their 
Nation in a civilian capacity, many are often priced out of public 
service due to rising college debts. Over the past decade, the average 
debt burden for a college graduate has increased by 58 percent. Many of 
the students who want to serve our country owe more than $20,000 in 
student loans after graduating from college.
  By providing a quality college education at no cost to the student, 
the U.S. Public Service Academy would tap into the renewed sense of 
patriotism and civic obligation among young people and create a corps 
of competent civilian leaders.
  The establishment of a U.S. Public Service Academy is an innovative 
way to strengthen and protect America by creating a corps of well-
trained, highly qualified civilian leaders. I am hopeful that my Senate 
colleagues from both sides of the aisle will join me today to move this 
legislation to the floor without delay.
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