by U.S. Sen. John Kerry and Ashley Bell
College Democrats of America
During his campaign for President, George W. Bush frequently addressed the importance of expanding access to higher education. In the fall of 2000, he said, "I want to make sure that higher education is affordable and accessible to every American. I am committed to helping families prepare for the cost of higher education."
Candidate Bush was right to show concern. According to the General Accounting Office, annual tuition and fees for all types of colleges have more than doubled since 1980 even when adjusting for inflation. Household incomes have risen at a significantly slower pace, and working families throughout the nation have struggled to keep up with college costs. Although higher education provides the best avenue through which young Americans can find well-paying jobs, it's harder and harder each year for many students to pay for college.
President Bush has shown he understands this problem, but he has consistently failed to take arms against it. Despite increasing college costs and the erosion of grant and loan purchasing power, Bush has proposed freezing or only marginally increasing the funding for several important initiatives. Notably, his administration has flunked the test on three programs that affect the day-to-day lives of millions of Americans.
First, President Bush has failed to deliver on campaign pledges about Pell Grants.
These federal grants target low-income students, and they're the government's most far-reaching effort to reduce barriers to higher education. Although Bush's campaign proposed that the government increase the maximum Pell Grants to $5,100, his 2002 budget offered only $3,850 and his 2003 budget proposes freezing grants at their current $4,000 level.
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Second, President Bush has failed to support the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (LEAP), a program that allocates funding to state governments for the purpose of expanding grants and loans. While Bush's 2002 budget proposed freezing its funding, his 2003 budget proposes eliminating the $67 million program altogether. Through LEAP, states have provided need-based grants and work-study assistance to students with substantial need, and the program's elimination would potentially impact 1.2 million recipients.
Finally, President Bush's 2003 budget proposes freezing funding for the Federal Perkins Loan. This is a low-interest loan for undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need, and it helps prevent students from amassing crippling debts.
In response to increasing college costs and decreasing access to higher education, the Democratic Party has taken a more aggressive approach. During the last eight years, we raised the Pell Grant maximum award from $2,300 to $3,750. Additionally, we guided the creation of the HOPE Scholarship and Lifetime Learning tax credits, which have helped nearly 10 million American families pay for college. Although only 43 percent of students benefited from federal grants and loans in 1992, 59 percent did by 1999.
The difference between the Democratic record and the Bush record thus far is clear and striking. It's time we energize college students to be motivated by these differences and to fight for an agenda aimed at improving their future.
Fewer than 30 percent of Americans 18-21 years of age cast their votes in the 2000 election. Many are cynical about the effectiveness and intentions of politicians, and they want national leadership fighting on their behalf. They need to be reminded why it is worthwhile to make a trip to the voting booth - and they need to remind President Bush why he needs to listen to America's younger voters.
In short, America's young people need President Bush to commit his administration to higher education - not just in words, but in action - and it will only happen if America's young people are committed to activism, not in words, but in votes, on election day.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry is a Democrat from Massachusetts and Ashley Bell is president of College Democrats of America.
