[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 65 (Monday, April 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION FOR FREEDOM ACT OF 2007

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                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2007

  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, today I am reintroducing the Higher 
Education for Freedom Act. This legislation establishes a competitive 
grant program making available funds to institutions of higher 
education, centers within such institutions, and associated nonprofit 
foundations. These grants would promote programs focused on the 
teaching and study of traditional American history, free institutions, 
and the history and achievements of Western Civilization at both the 
graduate and undergraduate level, including those that serve students 
enrolled in K-12 teacher education programs.
  Several years ago I was involved in a congressional effort to 
highlight the decline in historical and civic literacy among American 
college students. This effort led to the unanimous, bicameral passage 
of S. Con. Res. 129 which stated, in part, that ``the historical 
illiteracy of America's college and university graduates is a serious 
problem that should be addressed by the Nation's higher education 
community.''
  Given the increased threat to American ideals in the trying times in 
which we live, it is easy to see how the lack of historical and civic 
literacy among today's college students has become a more pressing 
issue. Nevertheless, most of the Nation's colleges and universities no 
longer require United States history or systematic study of Western 
civilization and free institutions as a general prerequisite to 
graduation, or for completing a teacher education program.
  I believe it is time for Congress to take a more active role in 
addressing this matter. Our country's higher education system must do a 
better job of providing the basic knowledge that is essential to full 
and informed participation in civic life and to the larger vibrancy of 
the American experiment in self-government, binding together a diverse 
people into a single nation with common purposes.

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