[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 130 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4137, HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACT

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                               speech of

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 2008

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the conference 
report on the Higher Education Opportunity Act. As a conferee on this 
bill, I am very pleased that we have a final bill before us. I want to 
thank Chairman Miller and Ranking Member McKeon for all their hard work 
on this bill, and I especially thank them for including provisions that 
are very important to people in Michigan.
  Higher education is vitally important for students entering the 
workforce and for the global competitiveness of this country. This bill 
will ensure students have better access to higher education, and that 
they have received a high quality educational experience when they 
receive their degree. Now that a college degree is the bare minimum 
requirement for so many jobs, the need for better access is stronger 
than ever.
  Let me comment on some specific provisions in the bill.
  In 2007, Representative Blumenauer and I joined together to introduce 
the Higher Education Sustainability Act (H.R. 3637). I commend 
Representative Blumenauer for his leadership in ``greening'' colleges 
and universities, and I am grateful that he allowed me to partner with 
him on an issue that is so dear to my heart. I am very pleased that 
provisions of our bill have been included in the conference report, 
especially now when energy prices and shortages are on everyone's mind.
  Simply put, sustainability is meeting the needs of the present 
generation without compromising the ability of future generations to 
meet their needs. As population growth, urban development and growing 
energy use place stress on our ecosystem, it is imperative that we 
develop innovative and successful sustainable operations and programs.
  Colleges and universities are in a unique position to foster new 
knowledge, evaluate policies and discover new technologies to address 
sustainability. Sustainable operations and programs on university 
campuses include water and energy conservation, recycling, and academic 
programs such as engineering courses that encourage innovative product 
designs, e.g., alternative fuels for cars, other new energy sources, 
and new types of packaging that use fewer natural materials.
  The conference report contains two key sustainability provisions. 
First, it convenes a Summit on Sustainability with higher education 
experts working in the area of sustainable operations and programs. The 
Federal Government and university and business leaders are encouraged 
to identify best practices in sustainability by promoting current 
efforts, enhancing research and identifying opportunities for 
partnerships to expand sustainable operations and academic programs. 
Also, it authorizes the Sustainability Grant Program. The Secretary of 
Education, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, is authorized to award grants to colleges and 
universities to establish sustainability research programs, such as 
developing new alternative energy sources. It also allows schools to 
implement sustainability practices on campus.
  The conference report also contains an important study of distance 
education. It requires the Secretary of Education to contract with the 
National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to 
conduct a scientifically valid study of the quality of distance 
education, as compared to traditional, campus-based education. With so 
many students using distance education and a huge Federal investment in 
helping students attend college, it is critical that we effectively 
evaluate new modes of instruction to ensure that our students are 
receiving a topnotch education.
  Finally, the conference report contains an array of provisions 
related to science, technology, engineering and math, collectively 
``STEM'', education. Notably, it includes the National STEM Database to 
allow students with an interest in the STEM fields to more easily find 
financial aid. Also, it authorizes important loan forgiveness for 
college graduates pursuing careers in the STEM fields, and it 
authorizes the Mathematics and Science Scholars Program to award 
scholarships to students pursuing STEM majors. Now, more than ever, we 
must increase the size of our STEM workforce to maintain our 
competitiveness and national security.
  In closing, I support this conference report since it helps students 
and makes many overdue improvements to the Higher Education Act. I urge 
all Members to vote in support of it.

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