[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[May 14, 1992]
[Pages 771-772]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 771]]

Message to the Congress Transmitting Proposed Legislation on Lifelong 
Learning

May 14, 1992
To the Congress of the United States:
    I am pleased to transmit today for your immediate consideration and 
enactment the ``Lifelong Learning Act of 1992.'' Also transmitted is a 
section-by-section analysis.
    This legislation would provide to all Americans, including working 
men and women and the unemployed, access to grant and loan help 
throughout their lives that is not now available. This additional help 
would make it possible for more Americans to further their education and 
increase their job skills and productivity.
    Enactment of this legislation would help move America forward in 
achieving National Education Goal Five: ``Every adult American will be 
literate and will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete 
in a global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of 
citizenship.''
    This legislation would:
    Extend eligibility for Pell Grants and the three Guaranteed 
            Student Loan (GSL) programs to students studying less than 
            half-time. Providing grant and loan assistance to 
            individuals taking as little as one course at a time offers 
            American men and women the flexibility they need to improve 
            their employment skills while recognizing their commitments 
            to jobs and families. This program would extend loan 
            eligibility to individuals who are enrolled in non-degree 
            granting education and training programs and who are taking 
            only one course at a time. These individuals have a 
            legitimate need for skill enhancement and training that is 
            not being met under existing loan programs. For example, a 
            working mother in a low-wage job could receive financial 
            assistance for courses that would qualify her for better 
            paying, high-skilled jobs.
    Extend new opportunities for education and training to all 
            U.S. citizens. Additional student loan eligibility would be 
            available for full- or part-time students. The Student Loan 
            Marketing Association (Sallie Mae) would be authorized to 
            originate up to $25,000 in loans, in addition to current GSL 
            loan limits, through the Lifelong Learning Line of Credit 
            for those borrowers who want the option of repaying loans on 
            a basis tied to their actual income. The concept of basing 
            student loan repayment on a borrower's future earnings has 
            long been attractive to the Administration and to many in 
            the Congress. However, a program of this type presents 
            unique and complex design issues that demand careful 
            analysis and structuring. This Act would call upon Sallie 
            Mae, a leader in student loan administration, to offer $100 
            million per year in loans and to work with the Secretary of 
            Education to devise actuarially and fiscally sound loan 
            options that would be widely available.
    Explore the use of high-quality education and training 
            programs offered by non-school based providers. The 
            Secretaries of Education and Labor would be authorized to 
            develop regulations under which students attending programs 
            offered by nontraditional types of providers could be 
            eligible for the Lifelong Learning Line of Credit. 
            Community-based organizations, public or private agencies, 
            and private employers are some examples of the types of 
            providers that might participate. These providers could 
            participate only if the high quality of the programs could 
            be ensured and if these funds do not replace funds already 
            being spent for this training.
    I believe that all Americans should have an opportunity to pursue 
education and training throughout their lives. I look forward to working 
with the Congress on this legislation and welcome your recommendations 
on how this legislation can best secure this opportunity for all 
Americans.
    I urge the Congress to give the Lifelong

[[Page 772]]

Learning Act of 1992 prompt and favorable consideration.

                                                             George Bush

The White House
May 14, 1992.