Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the first piece of legislation that I will sponsor in the 109th Congress--a resolution calling on the Senate to strengthen the Pell grant program so that more families can afford higher education.

The Pell grant program is the single largest source of grant aid for postsecondary education funded by the Federal Government. It provides grants to students based on their level of financial need to support their studies at the institutions they have chosen to attend. For this fiscal year, the Pell program is funded at $12.8 billion and is estimated to serve more than 5.3 million students.

I am pleased to have Senator Feingold and Senator Coleman joining me in this bipartisan effort to marshal additional Federal resources for the Pell program. They each have been a leader in the effort to expand access to higher education.

Our system of higher education is in many ways the envy of the world, but its benefits have not been equally available. Unfortunately, it is still the case that one of the most determinative factors of whether students will pursue higher education is their family income. Students from families with incomes above $75,000 are more than twice as likely to attend college as students from families with incomes of less that $25,000.

Even more unsettling are studies demonstrating the negative effect of unmet financial need on college attendance for even the most academically prepared students. Among the most highly qualified high school students, those from low-income families were 43 percent less likely to attend college than their wealthier counterparts.

To help remedy these inequities, the Federal Government has wisely invested in a need-based system of student financial aid designed to help remove the economic barriers to higher education. Central to this effort over the past 30 years has been the Pell grant program. This program was designed as the cornerstone of Federal student assistance.

Unfortunately, the purchasing power of the Pell grant has been significantly eroded in recent years, forcing students to rely increasingly on loans to finance their higher education. In 1975, the maximum Pell grant covered approximately 80 percent of the costs of attending a public, 4-year institution. Today, it covers less than half of these costs, forcing students to make up the difference by taking on larger and larger amounts of debt. On average, students from the University of Maine graduate with approximately $18,000 in debt from Federal student loans alone, and this reflects national trends. As startling as this figure is, it does not include additional indebtedness that many students incur through private loans or credit card debt to finance their education.

The decline in the value of grant aid and the growing reliance on loans bring other negative consequences. The staggering amount of loans can force some students to abandon their plans to attend college altogether. According to the College Board, low-income families are significantly less willing, by almost 50 percent, to finance a college education through borrowed money than their wealthier counterparts.

That does not surprise me. Many working families in Maine are committed to living within their means. Understandably, they are extremely wary of the staggering amount of debt that is now required to finance a college education.

I also know this to be true from my experiences as a college administrator at Husson College in Maine. At Husson, 85 to 90 percent of students currently receive some sort of Federal financial aid, and approximately 60 percent of students receive Pell grants.

As Linda Conant, the financial aid director at Husson told me, ``You cannot imagine how difficult it is to sit with a family and to explain to them the amount of loans that are needed to finance a post-secondary degree. It

scares them. That is why Pell grant aid is so important for low-income families. For these families, loans don't always work, but Pell does.''

I also heard from Judy Kenney from Northern Maine about the importance of Pell grants. Judy lives in Castle Hill, not far from my home town of Caribou. Her daughter and son both were able to attend college with the help of Pell grants. As she told me, ``At the time, my husband Maylen was farming and having a rough go of it and I was a teacher and didn't make much. But the Pell grants my children received made it possible for them to graduate, one from the University of New England and one from Thomas College. Without these grants, they couldn't have finished and now they are making good wages and paying taxes!''

Judy couldn't be more right on both counts. Not only can the typical bachelor's degree recipient expect to earn about 73 percent more over a lifetime than a high school graduate, they also typically contribute 100 percent more in Federal income taxes than the average high school graduate. So this is truly a Federal investment that pays for itself over the long run.

We also know that having a well-educated workforce is crucial to our economic future and competitiveness in the global economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that over the next 10 years, there will be significant growth in jobs requiring at least some post- secondary education. So increasingly, higher education is going to be necessary to ensure employability and to prepare Americans to participate in tomorrow's economy.

Pell grants make the difference in whether students have access to higher education, and a chance to participate fully in the American dream. That is why today I am introducing a resolution calling on the Senate to begin restoring the value of the Pell grant program.

This resolution calls on the Senate to raise the Pell maximum grant award to $4,500, a $450 increase in a single year. This increase is long overdue. The maximum grant award has been essentially level-funded for 4 straight years--at $4,050 for the past 3 years and only a $50 increase in FY 2002.

During these 4 years, think of the students who might have entered college and graduated with a degree, if only they had received additional Pell grant aid. Pell grants are targeted to the neediest of students--recipients have a median family income of only $15,200. An additional $450 in Pell grant aid may very well be the deciding factor on whether these students can pursue their college dreams.

The resolution also calls on the Senate to amend the Higher Education Act to provide higher authorization levels for the Pell maximum grant that would allow for a doubling of the maximum grant to $9,000 over the next 5 years. This is an ambitious goal but a worthy one for a nation that understands the opportunities that a college education brings.

As my colleagues know, the Higher Education Act is expected to be reauthorized this year. As the Senate HELP Committee considers the reauthorization, it is my hope that this resolution will prompt a discussion about the need for the maximum grant to grow.

I know that my good friends Senator Enzi, the new chairman of the Senate HELP Committee; Senator Kennedy, the ranking member; Senator Alexander, the chairman of the new Education and Early Childhood Development Subcommittee; and his Democratic counterpart will all work hard with other committee members to produce a strong reauthorization bill. I look forward to working with them further; they are all champions of ensuring greater access to quality education for all Americans, regardless of their financial means.

The President also has recently announced his intention to include a proposal in his 2006 budget request to eliminate the Pell shortfall and to provide an increase in the maximum grant of $100 for each of the next 5 years. I commend the President for focusing on Pell grants, and I hope that we can work together to provide a more substantial increase for the maximum grant for the upcoming year. An increase of approximately $100 for each of the next 5 years will not be enough to increase the purchasing power of Pell grants and will not keep pace with inflation or rising tuition costs. For 2004-2005, the average costs of tuition and fees for a public, 4-year institution rose by over 10 percent.

I will ask unanimous consent to have a letter of support for my legislation printed in the Record. This letter is from the Student Aid Alliance, a coalition of more than 60 organizations representing students, colleges and universities. Founded by the American Council on Education and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Student Aid Alliance includes members such as the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, to name just a few. I am pleased to have their support.

Mr. President, now is the time for us to make a commitment to raising the Pell maximum award to $4,500 for the upcoming award year. The Pell grant program is the foundation of making good on the American promise of access to higher education. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this resolution.

I ask unanimous consent to have the letter to which I referred printed in the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 360) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 360.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

House Concurrent Resolution 360 authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service to be held on Monday, May 15, 2006.

I am pleased to join the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for the second consecutive year in sponsoring the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service.

The Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police and its auxiliary annually sponsor this event honoring some of America's bravest men and women. The memorial service will honor the 155 Federal, State and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting their communities in 2005.

I would also like to recognize the five peace officers killed in the line of duty in 2005 from my home State of Pennsylvania: Edward Schroeder, Jr., Jesse Sollman, Paris Williams, Sr., Brian Gregg, and Joseph Pokorny. We are grateful for their service and sacrifice.

This will be the 25th time that this event has been held on the grounds of the Capitol. This memorial service is part of National Police Week, which was created by law in 1962 and runs this year from May 9 through May 15.

Police Week draws officers, their families, and survivors of fallen officers from around the country, and includes such events as the Blue Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral Church, a candlelight vigil at the National Law Enforcement Memorial, and a 50-K relay race.

The memorial service begins at noon on Monday. Following the ceremony on the Capitol Grounds, there will be a procession to the Law Enforcement Memorial and a wreath-laying ceremony.

I encourage my colleagues to attend this much-deserved memorial service and honor those who protect our communities on the front lines.

I would also like to recognize Jacob Joseph Chestnut and John Michael Gibson, the two Capitol Police officers killed in the line of duty in 1998. Both 18-year veterans of the Capitol Police, their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

The authorization of the use of the Capitol Grounds is just one of the ways Members of Congress recognize the service of peace officers and memorialize those who have fallen in the line of duty.

I was proud to be part of the First Annual Congressional Longest Yard Classic, a bipartisan fund-raiser to benefit the Capitol Police Memorial Fund, which assists the families of the fallen Capitol Police officers like Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson, who bravely gave their lives defending the United States Capitol and many of us who work here.

The idea of a football game fund-raiser was conceived by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi). It was a takeoff of the movie ``The Longest Yard'' with Members of Congress acting as the inmates and the Capitol Hill Police the guards. We were to battle it out on the gridiron. I thank Mr. Renzi for his help in organizing the fund-raiser and thank the 33 Members of Congress who participated. Some would say it was a wonderful experience despite the rain, but I would say it was a wonderful experience because of the rain.

Those 33 Members of Congress, all of us washed-up athletes, were able to

play the much-superior Capitol Police Force to a 12-12 tie. For us it was a great joy. But most importantly, we were able to raise nearly $60,000 for the Capitol Police Memorial Fund. I look forward to next year and for the match-up to continue to honor these brave men and women, and also for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, which will be held on Monday, May 15. I support this measure and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure and thank my colleague from New York for his tribute to those fallen officers and people who serve and protect us every day.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

House Concurrent Resolution 360 authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 25th annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, a most solemn and respectful public event honoring the brave, heroic officers who have fallen in the line of duty. The event, scheduled for May 15, will be in coordination with the Office of the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police.

Mr. Speaker, on average, one officer is killed in this country every other day. Approximately 23,000 are injured every year, and thousands more assaulted. Sadly, 155 names will be added to the memorial wall this year, including the names of five women who were killed in the line of duty. The fallen officers come from 32 States, the Federal Government, and Puerto Rico. Their average age was 38 years and 7 months. The youngest officer was 21 years old.

The memorial service is a fitting tribute to Federal, State and local police officers who gave their lives protecting our families, our homes, our places of work. They serve every day on the front lines in the battle to keep our communities safe. They sacrifice so much, and for this we are all, each of us, eternally grateful.

It is in this spirit of appreciation that in my hometown, Buffalo, Police Officer Greg O'Shei initiated the public recognition of fallen officers by memorializing their names on signs posted throughout the city of Buffalo. Officer O'Shei's efforts have reminded us every day in Buffalo and throughout the Nation of these brave sacrifices that are made daily.

The ceremony to be held on May 15 is the 25th anniversary of this memorial service which was established as a national event by President Kennedy in 1962. Consistent with all Capitol Hill events, the memorial service will be free and open to the public. I support the resolution and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this tribute to our fallen peace officers.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 360, a resolution to authorize use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service on May 15, 2006.

In October 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers' Memorial Day. Each year on this date we, as a Nation, have an opportunity to honor the devotion with which peace officers perform their daily task of protecting our families, co-workers, friends, and ourselves. The 2006 event marks the 25th anniversary of the Capitol Hill event. In the post September 11 environment, the work of selfless police and firemen has become our model of courage and moral strength.

There are approximately 700,000 sworn law enforcement officers serving the American public today. Ten percent of the police force officers are women. Law enforcement officers include those that work not only for states, counties and the federal government, but also military police, correction officers, and peace officers in the U.S. territories. In 2005, 155 officers were killed on the job; 5 of these officers were women. The leading cause of death was gunshot wound.

It is most fitting and proper to honor the lives, sacrifices, and public service of our brave peace officers. I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 360.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor all our military families by introducing a Resolution to designate November as National Military Family Month. As we all know, memories fade and the hardships experienced by our military families are easily forgotten unless they touch our own immediate family.

Today, we have our men and women deployed all over the world, engaged in this war on terrorism. These far-ranging military deployments are extremely difficult on the families who bear this heavy burden.

To honor these families, the Armed Services YMCA has sponsored Military Family Week in late November since 1996. However, due to frequent ``short week'' conflicts around the Thanksgiving holidays, the designated week has not always afforded enough time to schedule observance on and near our military bases.

I believe a month long observation will allow greater opportunity to plan events. Moreover, it will provide a greater opportunity to stimulate media support.

A resolution will help pave the way for this effort. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this tribute to our military families.