Joe Lieberman: “I was pleased to cosponsor Senator Schumer's amendment which was offered last week to help families with the cost of…”

“I was pleased to cosponsor Senator Schumer's amendment which was offered last week to help families with the cost of college tuition. Although the amendment did not pass, I wanted to state for the record the reasons for my support. The decisions we make today must reflect the enduring values we hold as a society. Two of those values are the ideas of opportunity and equality for every citizen. In today's complicated society, opportunity and equality depend in large part upon the level of a person's education. In other words, the more and the better an education one gets, the greater the chances that person will succeed economically. The College Board tells us that 'while the cost of college may be imposing to many families, the cost associated with not going to college is likely to be much greater.' Indeed, over a lifetime, the gap in earning potential between a high school diploma and a college degree exceeds $1 million. In addition, higher education is absolutely central to our ability to maintain our nation's global competitiveness.”