Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - July 20, 2005)
By Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Mr. DEWINE):
S. 1429. A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to assist homeless students in obtaining postsecondary education, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Ms. MURRAY. Mr. President, today I join Senator DEWINE to introduce a bill that would make the dream of a college diploma more accessible to homeless youth and kids in foster care.
We all know the obstacles students' in America need to overcome in order to succeed in post-secondary education. Couple these traditional obstacles with extreme poverty, residential instability, insufficient documentation and lack of awareness of supportive educational programs and it is no wonder homeless children and children in foster care are only half as likely to go on to college as their peers.
Youth in foster care are less likely to be enrolled in college preparatory classes and are more than twice as likely as non-foster care youth to drop out of high school altogether. Because The Higher Education Act supports several programs that motivate and support disadvantaged students to help increase their postsecondary educational attainment, it already has many of the tools necessary to intervene in these student lives. My bill would help programs, such as TRIO and GEAR UP, target their resources to better serve homeless and foster care populations. Early intervention is key in retaining these students and preparing them for post-secondary education.
More than 70 percent of teens in foster care desire to go to college, only 27 percent of those who graduate from high school realize that dream. Although children and youth who experience the instability of homelessness or foster care represent the full range of academic talents and abilities, their situations create serious barriers to school enrollment, attendance, and success.
Homeless and foster care youth do not have the traditional family network to encourage or assist them in planning for a college education. These youth need help to select a college, apply for admission and obtaining financial aid. In addition, their student aid must be used for so much more than just tuition and books. They face the daunting challenges of housing, transportation and other basic needs. By assisting these youth to become independent students we will increase their access to student aid for financial aid purposes; improve their changes for a smooth transition into, and completion of, higher learning.
Our nation's economic well-being depends on our ability to provide greater access to higher education for students, regardless of their family background. By passing this bill we guarantee more students than ever will be given the tools they need to attend college and succeed. Through college we provide these vulnerable students with the best hope for escaping the cycle of poverty and homelessness.
I look forward to working with HELP Committee Chairman ENZI to incorporate these provisions into the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill. And again, I thank Senator DEWINE for his commitment to these often overlooked children.
I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the RECORD.
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