Political Quotes

“in the 2000 campaign, President Bush declared that he opposed nation-building. Who knew it was America he was talking about? When we look at this higher education agenda, the President can run for reelection saying he kept his promise against nation-building. Everybody understands the importance of higher education, opening doors of economic opportunity in a time of changing economic conditions. Pell Grants, the single largest educational opportunity we provide at the Federal level, is frozen. In fact, as tuition has been going up by 14 percent a year for the last 3 years, we have kept constant the Pell Grant and have not allowed it to increase with the cost of college education. Today, at the University of Illinois, the average graduate from the University of Illinois graduates on graduation day, gets a diploma plus $18,000 in debt. They get their first Visa bill when they graduate from college. We have frozen higher education assistance to middle-class families. During the campaign, President Bush promised to increase the Pell Grant to $5,100. Despite an average tuition increase of 14 percent, the Pell Grant today sits at $4,050. To me, that is a fascinating way to invest in America's future. We make available all these types of assistance to corporations. That child is as important to America's future as a corporation, yet we have frozen and closed the doors of economic opportunity.”