Education

EDUCATION

Mr. REED. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. DODD. Yes.

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I say to the Senator, you were speaking about increasing the Pell grant, which strikes a chord with me. Senator Pell was my predecessor, the architect of this great program. I am sure you are aware, but if you can confirm this awareness, the Pell Grant program has a $3.7 billion shortfall because of an increase in the number of students who have qualified for the Pell grant since our economy has not produced jobs over the last several years and has been dead in the water until very recently. We, in our budget, included the $3.7 billion, but I am told this funding might be in jeopardy in the conference, which would be a grievous blow to the Pell Grant Program in addition to what you have described. Are you aware of this difficulty?

Mr. DODD. Madam President, I thank my colleague from Rhode Island. He very appropriately points out he succeeded Claiborne Pell, whom the Senator from Massachusetts and I had the great privilege of serving with. The Senator from Rhode Island knows the wonderful contribution he made to millions of young Americans, Americans of all ages, but particularly young Americans.

I was not aware of what my colleague from Rhode Island told me. I think that is extremely important information. I would hope, as I am sure he does, the conferees and the American public would let conferees and the leadership here in Congress know this shortfall must not be allowed to exist if we are going to have any hope at all of meeting some of the obligations we have.

I might ask my colleague from Rhode Island, give us some indication how that is working now. Does he believe that is going to be the case? And what would be the implications of that?

Mr. NICKLES. Regular order.

Mr. DODD. Madam President, I believe the Senator has the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut may yield only for a question.

Mr. DODD. Madam President, I am responding to a question. Without yielding my right to the floor, I am asking my colleague from Rhode Island to respond to a question.

Mr. REED. Will my colleague yield for another question?

Mr. DODD. Yes.

Mr. REED. First, the Pell Grant Program is in jeopardy because of its low funding levels. As you and Senator Kennedy have pointed out so accurately, the maximum award has not been raised, contrary to the President's promise. In addition, the $3.7 billion shortfall exists today. We have taken a step on our side to remedy the shortfall, but it is unclear what the other side and the conferees will do. So that is another detriment to the Pell Grant Program.

But I will ask a final question of the Senator. The President's budget not only inadequately funds the Pell Grant Program, but it eliminates the LEAP Program-Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships-a collaboration between the State and Federal governments to provide need-based grants to low-income students.

The President's budget also zeroes out funds for the Perkins Loan Capital Contributions, which provides low-interest loans to millions of low-income college students.

Additionally, the President's budget fails to increase funding for the campus-based programs, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and Federal Work-Study, as well as the early awareness programs, TRIO and GEAR UP.

I again inquire whether the Senator is aware that in addition to the blows that have been taken to the Pell Grant Program, so many other Federal programs that aid particularly low-income Americans are not being adequately funded. I think that goes directly to your point, I say to the Senator, that 200,000 young Americans with talent, ambition, and drive are unable to go to college because we are not providing the resources.

Mr. DODD. Again, Madam President, I am very grateful to my colleague from Rhode Island for pointing out matters I had not addressed; that is, these other areas of higher education.

This is an assault on higher education. But more importantly, it is an assault on young people in this country who are going to provide the well-being. I always like to point out this Nation historically, even during times of our most significant crises, has found a time and a place to support higher education. I have often pointed out one of the first acts of Congress in 1789, as we were still struggling to get on our feet, was the Northwest Ordinance, which set aside lands for education. It was a rather remarkable accomplishment. Think of all the things the first Congress had to deal with. Education was one of the top priorities on their list.

Then right in the middle of the Civil War-imagine the country divided, wondering whether we would survive as a nation-the Congress of the United States passed something called the Morrill Act, which was the land grant colleges. I believe the University of Rhode Island-I know the University of Connecticut got started as a land grant college, and I know colleges all across this country got their start because of the Morrill Act. Congress found the money during the great Civil War to fund higher education.

Even before the end of World War II, before the defeat of nazism and the Japanese empire, the Congress passed the GI Bill.
And think, if you will, of the investment made in those years, coming off the war years, and how we have benefitted, when you consider a generation of Americans which was able to get an education and go on, and how we have been paid back a thousandfold by the contributions of a generation of young Americans who fought in World War II, who were able to get an education, and then provide the kind of innovation and creativity and jobs and incomes that has helped us grow to the great Nation we are in terms of economic strength.

So there was the Northwest Ordinance, the Morrill Act, the GI bill, generations that understood the importance of investing in education. Here we are in the 21st century, we have a President that not only doesn't have an idea about how to increase resources for higher education, he wants to cut back on what we have. How do you explain that to the American people when we are trying to increase the opportunities for higher education?

I thank my colleagues.