[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 50 (Thursday, March 22, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S3612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. CLINTON (for herself, Mr. Specter, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. 
        Boxer, Mr. Biden, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Kennedy, and Mrs. 
        Hutchison):
  S. 960. 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 United 
States Public Service Academy Act, (The PSA Act), will form a national 
academy to serve as an extraordinary example of effective, national 
public education.
  The tragic events of September 11 and the devastation of natural 
disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita underscore how much our 
Nation depends on strong public institutions and competent civilian 
leadership at all levels of society.
  We must take a step forward in the 110th Congress with a positive 
agenda to ensure competent civilian leadership and improve our Nation's 
ability to respond to future emergencies and to confront daily 
challenges. That is why Senator Specter and I have come together to 
sponsor the PSA Act.
  This legislation will create the U.S. Public Service Academy to groom 
future public servants and build a corps of capable civilian leaders. 
Modeled after the military service academies, this academy will provide 
a four-year, federally-subsidized college education for more than 5,000 
students a year in exchange for a five year commitment to public 
service.
  The PSA Act will meet critical national needs as the baby-boomer 
generation approaches retirement. Already, studies show looming 
shortages in the Federal civil service, public education, law 
enforcement, the non-profit sector and other essential areas. Academy 
graduates will help to fill the void in public service our Nation will 
soon face by serving for five years in areas such as public education, 
public health, and law enforcement.
  Unfortunately our young people are priced out of public service 
careers all too often with the average college graduate owing more than 
$20,000 in student loans. 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. By providing a service-oriented education at no 
cost to the student, the PSA Act will tap into the strong desire to 
serve that already exists among college students while erasing the 
burden of enormous college debt.
  The establishment of a United States 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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