{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}
EARLIER, WORRY GETTING SUCH LEVERAGE FROM THIS MONEY. WE WILL
PROBABLY SAVE IN MY OPINION MORE ON THE BACK END BY HAVING LESS
LOANS THAT WE HAVE TO PAY AND SUBSIDIZE BY THIS CONGRESS THAN
WE WOULD BY ALLOWING THE TAX DEDUCTION TO BEGIN WITH. AND I
WANT TO SHARE SOME THINGS ABOUT THIS IDEA THAT THIS IS ALL FORE
THE RICH. -- --THIS IS ALL FOR THRICH. OF COURSE, YOU NEVER
{16:45:35} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
KNOW HOW THEY DEFINE RICH. YOU GOT A MAN AND WOMAN BOTH WORKING
HARD MAKING $75,000 OR $80,000, THEY CALL THAT RICH. I DON'T
CALL THAT RICH. THOSE ARE PEOPLE DOING WHAT WE HOPE EVERY
AMERICAN IS DOING. WORKING HARD, MAKING $30,000, $40,000 A YEAR
AND WE BURDEN THEM CONSISTENTLY WITH TAXES. WE TAKE THEM FOR
GRANTED. THEY HAVE TO PAY PAY PAY. THE BREAKS ALWAYS SEEM TO GO
FOR SOMEONE ELSE. PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE RICH. I DON'T AGREE WITH
THAT. LET'S LOOK AT THE NUMBERS WE HAVE ON WHO IS TAKING
{16:46:10} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
ADVANTAGE OF PREPAID TUITION PLANS. WE'VE GOT QUITE A TRACK
RECORD AROUND THE COUNTRY OF THOSE. IT IS MIDDLE-INCOME
FAMILIES IS THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE PLANS, NOT THE
RICH. IN FROM FL, 71% -- IN FLORIDA, 71% OF THE FAMILIES IN THE
FLORIDA PROGRAM, HAVE ANNUAL INCOMES OF UNDER $50,000, AND 25%
HAVE INCOMES OF LESS THAN $30,000. INSTEAD HI PUTTING MONEY
{16:46:44} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
ASIDE HE HAVE YEAR, EVERY MONTH, EVERY WEEK TO HELP PAY THEIR
CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, THE DREAM THEY HAVE. MAYBE THEMSELVES
DIDN'T GET AN EDUCATION THE IN COLLEGE. MY PARENTS DIDN'T GET
TO GO TO COLLEGE. THEY DID EVERYTHING THIS COULD TO SEE I COULD
GO TO COLLEGE. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE THINGS YOU HAVE TODAY THAT
WOULD HELP. BUT THAT -- 25% HAVE LESS THAN $30,000. 72% OF THE
TUITION CONTRACTS IN THE ALASKA ADVANCED COLLEGE TUITION
PAYMENT PLAN, A SIMILAR PLAN, HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY FAMILIES
{16:47:18} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
WITH IN INCOMES OF LESS THAN $47,500. 81% OF THE CONTRACTS IN
WYOMING'S PLAN HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY FAMILIES WITH ANNUAL
INCOMES OF LESS THAN $34,000. 62% OF THE CONTRACTS IN THE
PENNSYLVANIA PLAN HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY FAMILIES WITH ANNUAL
INCOMES OF LESS THAN $35,000. 36% OF THE PARTICIPATING FAMILIES
IN THE TEXAS TOMORROW FUND PROGRAM HAVE ANNUAL INCOMES OF LESS
{16:47:56} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THAN $50,000. THE AVERAGE MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION, THE AVERAGE
MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION TO A FAMILY COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT DURING
18995 IN KENTUCKY WAS $43 A MONTH. -- --IN 1995 IN KENTUCKY WAS
$43 A MONTH. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROGRAM, IT WOULD LEVERAGE
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SAVINGS, I SUBMIT, ACCORDING TO THE
JOINT TAX SCORE WAS $174 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. THAT'S ALL IT
COST. BUT IT WILL INCREASE SAVINGS. AND IN FACT I SAW NOT TOO
{16:48:27} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
LONG AGO AN ARTICLE IN ONE OF THESE FINANCIAL ADVISOR MAGAZINES
THAT WONDERED WHETHER OR NOT IT CONSIDERED IT SORT OF A WASH
WHETHER IT WAS A GOOD INVESTMENT TO MULTIYOUR MONEY IN A
COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN. IF THEY ARE GOING TO TAX THE INTEREST ON
IT I COULD SEE WHY. THIS WOULD BE AN INDUCEMENT. MAKE
ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT IT IS A SMART INVESTMENT TO INVEST IN
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS WHILE YOUR CHILDREN ARE YOUNG. I WOULD JUST
SAY, MR. PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE IN EDUCATION. I TAUGHT IN PUBLIC
{16:49:03} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
SCHOOLS, ONE YEAR. I HAD TO DO SOMETHING EASY AFTER THAT.
ANYBODY THAT HASN'T TAUGHT DOESN'T KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS. MY
WIFE TAUGHT A NUMBER OF YEARS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'VE BEEN
THERE WHETHER SHE'S COME HOME AT NIGHT IN TEARS OVER THE
FRUSTRATIONS AND DIFFICULTIES IN TEACHING BECAUSE TEACHERS CARE
ABOUT THEIR KIDS, AND IT IS TOUGH IN THOSE CLASSROOMS DAY AFTER
DAY AND IT IS FRUSTRATION. AND SO OFTEN WHAT I AM HEARING WHEN
I TALK TO PEOPLE IS THAT FEDERAL REGULATIONS ARE MAKING THEIR
{16:49:34} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
LIVES MORE DIFFICULT THAN THEY WOULD BE OTHERWISE. WHAT THEY
ARE TELLING ME IS IF YOU WOULD GIVE US FREEDOM TO USE SOME OF
THIS MONEY YOU ARE GIVING, WE COULD DO MORE FOR IT. YOU DON'T
KNOW IN WASHINGTON. WHAT DO WE KNOW IN WASHINGTON?
I WENT TO A SCHOOLING, A PUBLIC SCHOOL WITH 30 IN MY SENIOR
CLASS. ONE OF THEM OF THAT 30 IS A DEAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
ALABAMA TODAY. ONE GRADUATED FROM A THAT POLICE, TWO OR THREE
ENGINEERS. BUT THAT WAS A GOOD GROUP OF KIDS. BUT WE CAME TO A
{16:50:10} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
VERY SMALL RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOL. MY TWO DAUGHTERS GRADUATED FROM
A MAJOR INNER CITY HIGH SCHOOL IN MOBILE, ALABAMA, WITH OVER
2,000 STUDENTS. WE CAN'T WRITE A LAW HERE THAT CAN
APPROPRIATELY BENEFIT IN A SENSIBLE WAY PRECISELY WHAT IS
NEEDED IN SCHOOLS THAT DIFFERENT. SCHOOLS IN THE NORTHWEST.
SCHOOLS IN BIG CITIES. SCHOOLS IN SMALL TOWNS. EACH STATE HAS
DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF ED# INDICATION. SOME ARE DESPERATE TO FOR
{16:50:42} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MORE TEACHERS. SOME MORE BUILDINGS. SOME MORE COMPUTERS. THE
SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE TAX BOOKS.
MINNESOTA OUGHT TO HAVE TEXTBOOKS. THEY HAVE SNUFF MONEY TO PAY
FOR IT. ALABAMA HAS TEXTBOOKS. BUT WHATEVER, WHAT WE NEED TO
KNOW, CLEARLY, AND THIS IS TO IMPORTANT, WE NEED TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN IN THIS CONGRESS TO IMPROVE LEARNING. WE KNOW
{16:51:16} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THAT DESPITE THE FACT WE ARE SECOND ONLY TO I BELIEVE ISRAEL IN
TERMS OF PER CAPITA SPENDING ON EDUCATION, OUR TEST SCORES ARE
NOT GOOD. WE FINISHED 19 OUT OF 21 INDUSTRIAL NATIONS IN
SCIENCE AND MATH TEST SCORES. 21 OUT OF 21 FOR PHYSIC TEST
SCORES. HOW, SOMETHING ISN'T HEALTHY IN OUR EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM. I BELIEVE THE ANSWER TO IT FROM MY TRAVELS, FROM
TALKING TO TEACHERS AND FRIENDS OF MINE WHO ARE TEACHERS THAT
{16:51:49} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL, EVEN
DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL CLASSROOM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE LEARNING
OCCURS. WE NEED TO EMPOWER THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW OUR CHILDREN'S
NAMES. NOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SIMPLY DOES NOT HAVE THE
CLOUT TO GO AND TELL SCHOOLS HOW TO RUN THEIR SYSTEMS. WE GIVE
{16:52:25} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
-- IN DAYS MANY OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW -- ONLY 6% OF THE COST OF
EDUCATION IN AMERICA. HISTORICALLY. EDUCATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
STATE AND LOCAL ENTERPRISE. WE HAVE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS. LOCAL
STUDENTS. PRINCIPALS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE CIVIC CLUBS OF OUR
GREAT COMMUNITY. KNOW OUR PARENTS. TEACHERS KNOW OUR PARENTS.
P. ST R.T.A. ASSOCIATION. EDUCATION IS RIGHT THERE-- --P.T.A.
ASSOCIATION. EDUCATION IS RIGHT THERE. ONE OF THE BEST SPEECHES
{16:52:56} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
I HEARD ON THIS FLOOR IS THE SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA
SPEAKING ABOUT THE ONE ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE HE GREW UP IN. MINE WAS
NOT ONE ROOM, BUT IT WAS A COUNTRY SCHOOL. BUT I MEAN THEY
BROUGHT WATER FROM THE SPRING IN A BUCKET AND DRANK FROM A
SINGLE DIPPER. AND HE'S DONE RATHER WELL. NOT A MORE EDUCATED
PERSON IN THIS SENATE THAN SENATOR BYRD. IN FACT THERE IS NO
DOUBT ABOUT THAT. AT ANY RATE, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT I BELIEVE
WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE. WHAT IS THIS
{16:53:29} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
LEGISLATION ABOUT?
THIS IS NOT HAS CURE TO ALL EDUCATION PROBLEMS. THIS IS SIMPLY
A PROPOSAL TO ALLOW TAX POLICY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SAVE, TO
PAY FOR EDUCATION. NOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
THE COST OF IT IS INIF I TEST MALY SMALL COMPARED TO WHAT ELSE
WE ARE SPENDING IN THIS CONGRESS ON EDUCATION. IT IS A MINUTE
THING. BUT IT WOULD INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT. IT WOULD INCREASE SAVINGS. IT WOULD INCREASE
{16:54:00} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MONEYS AVAILABLE TO HE HAD SKATE CHILDREN. ACCORDING TO THE
WISHES OF THE PARENTS. A GOOD IDEA I BELIEVE. A HEALTHY IDEA. I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY AGAIN HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE SENATOR COVERDELL
AND HIS LEADERSHIP IN THIS EFFORT. SENATOR ROTH WHO CHAIRS THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE IS COMMITTED DO IMPROVING EDUCATION AS HE
CAN. NOR BOB DWRAM FROM FLORIDA IS WHO IS COSPONSOR OF THE
CLASS ACT WITH MEN. IT IS A BIPARTISAN PIECE OF LEGISLATION. I
THINK IT IS GOOD PUBLIC POLICY FOR PULE. I THINK THAT THIS IS A
{16:54:34} (MR. SESSIONS) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
GOOD, SOLID FIRST STEP TOWARD ENCOURAGING PEOPLE, A FIRMING
PEOPLE WHO CARE ENOUGH TO SAVE FOR THE EDUCATION OF THEIR
CHILDREN. WHO COULD BE AGAINST THAT?
I THANK THE CHAIR AND I WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR.
{16:54:53 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE SENATOR FROM
WEST VIRGINIA.
{16:55:01 NSP} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. BYRD: MR. PRESIDENT, I THANK THE CHAIR. IT IS MIGRATE
PLEASURE TO CONGRATULATE-- --IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO
CONGRATULATE MY VERY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE, SENATOR ROCKEFELLER
ROCKEFELLER, AND HIS LOVELY WIFE SHARON ON THE OCCASION OF THE
BIRTH OF THEIR FIRST GRANDCHILD. LAURA CHANDLER ROCKEFELLER WAS
{16:55:33} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
BORN ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 16. FEBRUARY, THE SECOND
MONTH OF OUR CALENDAR YEAR IS FROM THE LATIN FEBRUARIUS. IT IS
A WORD OF SABIN ORIGIN SIGNIFYING PURIFICATION. THE ROMAN
FESTIVAL OF PURIFICATION WAS HELD DURING THIS MONTH. NATURE, IN
THE MIDST OF WINTER WITH ITS COLD AND YET CLEANSING,
{16:56:09} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
INVIGORATING AIR IS PREPARING FOR THE GLORIOUS BLOOMS OF
SPRING. AND IN THIS OR ANY SO, WHAT CAN MORE EXEMPLIFY THE
INNOCENCE AND PURITY OF LIFE THAN A NEWBORN CHILD?
LAURA'S PROUD PARENTS ARE SENATOR AND MRS. ROCKEFELLER'S ELDEST
SON JOHN AND HIS LOVELY WIFE EMILY. LAURA IS IN GOOD HANDS. SHE
{16:56:50} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
IS BLESSED WITH PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WHO LOVE HER AND WHO
LOVE LEARNING. JOHN IS COMPLETING HIS DOCTORAL STUDIES IN
ENGLISH LITERATURE AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY. AND EMILY IS A
TEACHER. THE FIRST, THE MOST PROFOUND TEACHER ANY OF US CAN
HAVE IS OUR MOTHER. WHEN WE FIRST ENTER THIS WORLD IN A BLAZE
{16:57:24} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
OF LIGHT AND CONFUSION, IN SUCH FRIGHTENING CONTRAST TO OUR
EARLIER SERENITY, IS OUR MOTHER WHO COMFORTS US. IT IS OUR
MOTHER WHO SOOTHES OUR CRIES. CRADLES US SAFELY IN HER ARMS AND
ROCKS US TO SLEEP. THIS IS THE FIRST MOST PRECIOUS GIFT OF A
{16:57:56} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
CARING MOTHER. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT JOHN AND EMILY WILL TEACH
LAURA THE JOY, THE LIFELONG COMFORT OF THE GREAT BOOKS. THE
GREAT OLD MAN WHO RAISED ME ME, MY UNCLE, TRULY THE MOST
REMARKABLE MAN I HAVE EVER BEEN PRIVILEGED TO KNOW. JUST AN OLD
{16:58:30} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
COAL MINER. HE WAS NOT AN EDUCATED MAN IN THIS WORLD'S HALLS
AND UNIVERSITIES. HE WAS A WISE MAN. A HARD WORKING COAL MINER.
WHO PLAYED HIS PART IN LIFE WITH A STOIC AND DIGNIFIED
DETERMINATION TO DO HIS BEST FOR HIS SMALL FAMILY. AND FOR HIS
COUNTRY AND FOR HIS GOD. HE ENCOURAGED ME TO READ, TO LEARN TO
{16:59:00} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
TRY TO DEVELOP MY MIND TO THE BEST OF MY OWN ABILITIES. AS
ANOTHER GREAT MAN WROTE SHALL AND I QUOTE, -- QUOTE -- "THE
READING OF ALL GOOD BOOKS IS LIKE CONSERVATIONS --
CONVERSATIONS WH THE FINEST MEN OF PAST CENTURIES." CARL
SANDBERG SAID A BABY IS GOD'S OPINION THAT LIFE SHOULD GO ON.
ONE OF THE GREATEST JOYCE OF OUR EXISTENCE IS TO SIMPLY HOLD A
{16:59:36} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
NEWBORN BABY -- JOYS OF OUR EXISTENCE IS TO SIMPLY HOLD A
NEWBORN BABY. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS OUR SON, DAUGHTER, CHILD,
GRAND CHILD OR GREAT GRANDCHILD. JUST TO HOLD A NEWBORN BABY
THAT POSSESSES ALL THE FRESHNESS AND NEWNESS AND THE PROMISE OF
LIFE. WE GAZE IN AWE AT THIS VALIANT LITTLE CREATURE, SO
HELPLESS,
{END: 2000/02/23 TIME: 17-00 , Wed. 106TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}
{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}