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

           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

           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

           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

           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

           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

           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

           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

           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

           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

           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

           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

           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

           -- 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

           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

           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

           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

           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.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE SENATOR FROM
           WEST VIRGINIA.
           

           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

           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,

           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

           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

           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

           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

           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

           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

           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}