Paul Coverdell: “for people to remain free, they must be educated. It is at the foundation of our liberty. This bill that has just been…”

“for people to remain free, they must be educated. It is at the foundation of our liberty. This bill that has just been referred owes a great debt to Senator Coats of Indiana, Senator Gregg of New Hampshire, Senator Roth of Delaware, Senator Jeffords of Vermont, Senator Bond of Missouri, Senator Shelby of Alabama, and Senator Grassley of Iowa. Mr. President, there is a grave condition in our elementary and high schools across the land. Forty-six percent of our students have made at least one change in daily routine because of concerns about personal safety. Twenty-nine percent said it was easy to get illegal drugs. Seventy-nine percent have friends who are regular drinkers. Sixty-eight percent can buy marijuana within a day. Sixty-two percent have friends who use marijuana. During the last 15 years, Mr. President, tuition at 4-year public colleges and universities rose 234 percent. In contrast, median household income rose only 82 percent, putting an ever tighter squeeze on those families that choose to and desire to send their children to college. Since 1990, American college students have borrowed over $100 billion, and borrowing among students and families to seek their higher education has skyrocketed. Mr. President, since 1965, the United States has spent half a trillion dollars--$500 billion--on Federal education programs, yet 66 percent of 17-year-olds do not read at a proficient level, and reading scores have been declining for three decades.”