[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 32 (Monday, August 16, 1999)]
[Pages 1583-1584]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

August 7, 1999

    Good morning. At the edge of a new century and an increasingly 
competitive global economy, we know that our children's futures will be 
determined in large part by the quality of the education they receive. 
More and more, what you earn depends upon what you learn.
    Our administration has made education a high priority, focusing on 
standards, accountability, and choice in public schools, and on making a 
college education available to every American--with increased Pell grant 
scholarships, better student loan and work-study programs, and the HOPE 
scholarship and other tax credits to help families pay for college 
tuition. Because of these efforts, more young people have the chance to 
make the most of their God-given abilities, and take their place in the 
high-tech world of the 21st century.
    Today I want to talk about what we're doing to build on our 
progress, by reaching out to young people and challenging all of them to 
reach for their dreams by preparing for college. Because as far as we've 
come, we know, still, there is much to do; for too many children, 
especially in economically distressed communities, aren't getting the 
chance to reach their highest potential.
    That's why we've worked hard to expand Head Start; to connect every 
classroom in America, even in our poorest communities, to the Internet; 
to launch the America Reads program, which has mobilized tens of 
thousands of student tutors to help millions of children learn to read; 
and to expand after-school programs, to keep kids in school and 
learning, not on the street and losing their way.
    But to really make a difference in disadvantaged children's lives, 
we must instill in them the unshakable belief that if they work hard, 
they will be able to go on to college. And we must give them the tools 
to achieve that dream.
    I know how important this can be. No one in my family had ever gone 
to college before me. But I never doubted I was going to college, 
because everyone in my life guided me to reach that goal. That's what I 
want for every child in America. For years now, Congressman Chaka 
Fattah, Eugene Lang--who started the ``I Have a Dream'' Foundation--and 
the Ford Foundation have been dedicated to supporting new partnerships 
to meet that challenge.

[[Page 1584]]

    Last year, in my State of the Union Address, I asked Congress to 
support our plan to create hundreds of these partnerships between 
universities, colleges, middle schools, and community and business 
organizations. These innovative programs start early, reaching out to 
students no later than seventh grade, staying with them all the way, 
from providing students with mentors who encourage them to have high 
hopes and high expectations for themselves, to ensuring that schools 
teach the classes that prepare young people for college entrance exams, 
to helping families figure out how to pay for college. These programs 
can make all the difference in whether a young person goes to college.
    Last year, with bipartisan support, Congress passed and I signed, 
legislation creating the GEAR UP program. With the leadership of Senator 
Specter of Pennsylvania and Senator Harkin of Iowa, we secured the funds 
to put this plan into action. Today I am pleased to announce the first 
$120 million in GEAR UP grants to help States and communities all over 
the country inspire and guide their children from the playground to the 
college classroom.
    I'm glad to be joined here today by Congressman Fattah, by Senator 
Specter, and also by Congressman Becerra from California, who supports 
this program. And I ask Congress to fully fund my request to double our 
commitment to these programs now, so that we can reach more of our 
children than ever. GEAR UP is a great example of what we can accomplish 
when we put progress ahead of partisanship and put our children's future 
first.
    Unfortunately, this is exactly the kind of program that the 
Republican large tax plan would jeopardize. Families don't take a costly 
vacation and then say they'll figure out when they get home whether they 
can make the mortgage payments or pay the college tuition. And I don't 
think we should decide on this big tax cut and just hope there's enough 
left over to pay for education and to save Social Security and Medicare 
and pay off our national debt. We have worked very hard to turn around 
the deficit. Now is not the time to turn our backs on our children's 
future.
    So today I say again, let's join together across party lines to put 
first things first and build a stronger America for the 21st century.
    Thanks for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 12:17 p.m. on August 5 in the 
Roosevelt Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 
7. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on August 6 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast.