A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       Contact:  Rick Miller     June 27, 1996                                      (202) 401-3026

Riley Calls House Appropriations Committee Action on Education Budget "Clearly Unacceptable"

The House Appropriations Committee has voted to cut President Clinton's 1997 education budget request by $2.8 billion, failing, Riley said, to keep up with America's education needs.

"The committee's bill is a stand-still budget just when American education needs to be moving ahead," Riley said. "More students than ever before will be in our nation's classrooms this fall -- nearly 52 million. We need a budget that is in touch with reality and the growing educational needs of our students."

Riley called upon the members of the House to protect the nation's investment in education and support the president's full request.

"I hope the House leadership will not return to the failed policies of the 1996 budget fight, which paralyzed the government, spread fear and confusion in our schools and colleges, and angered the American people," Riley said. "If that struggle taught us anything, it is that the American people overwhelmingly support the President's approach, which is to increase investments in better education within a balanced-budget plan. A bipartisan majority in the Congress ultimately supported him, and I hope the committee will return to the bipartisan approach."

Riley cited the following committee actions as examples:

• Goals 2000. The committee zeroed it out. The president's balanced-budget proposal for Goals 2000 would support better education for six million children in 12,000 schools. "At a time when the Goals 2000: Educate America initiative is supporting local school improvement in more communities than ever before, the committee has tragically walked away from this critically important effort to raise academic standards," Riley said.

• Safe and Drug-Free Schools. "Drug use among young people is growing and the American people have consistently cited violence as the biggest problem in our schools," Riley said. "Safety must be job one." Nonetheless, the committee cuts the president's request by 18 percent, denying assistance to millions of children.

• Reading. The committee voted to freeze funding for Title I, which helps seven million children to learn basic reading, writing and math skills. A freeze actually translates into less real dollars for services, given inflation. The committee's bill would mean serving over 150,000 fewer children than in 1996 and nearly 450,000 fewer children than the president's budget.

• Technology. To succeed in today's economy, students must be computer literate. Yet the committee has refused to provide funding for the administration's proposed technology initiative -- the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund. The fund would help every classroom in America to connect to the Information Superhighway with computers, good software and well-trained teachers.

• Higher education. The committee moved to support the president's request for increased funding for college work-study programs. But its plan to increase the maximum Pell Grant award by only $30 is "totally inadequate," Riley said, and would aid approximately 100,000 fewer students than the president's balanced budget.

  "A mere $30 hardly meets the needs of today's working families and students," Riley said. "The president has called for a $230 increase, to $2,700 for 1997 (and ultimately to $3,128 in five years). This is an increase that can really make a difference to college students."

• Direct Lending. The committee's cut in administrative funds for students loans would undermine the operations of all student loan programs. It would also effectively cap the volume of Direct Lending, denying colleges the right to choose the lending program that works best for them.

Riley also cited the president's new HOPE Scholarship and tuition tax deduction proposals as two more important steps that would open the doors of college and opportunity for many more Americans.

"HOPE Scholarships would guarantee that most Americans could get a tax credit that would make up to two years of college tuition-free or almost tuition-free," Riley said. "Students could choose this credit or a $10,000 tax deduction at any time in their lives. Let's remember that our students may be only 20 percent of our population, but they are 100 percent of our future."

NOTE TO EDITORS: Following is a comparison of the president's education budget with the House committee's action.

Higher Standards -- GOALS 2000
Helps 12,000 schools raise academic standards and achievement
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 350,000,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 491,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: ELIMINATED
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -491,000,000 (-100%)

Improving the Basics -- Title I (Grants to LEAs)
Helps 7 million children learn reading and math in 50,000 schools
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 6,730,348,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 7,165,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 6,730,348,000
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -434,652,000(-6%)

Safe and Drug Free Schools
Helps schools become safer, more disciplined and drug-free
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 465,971,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 540,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 440,978,000
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -99,022,000 (-18%)

Special Ed State Grants
Helps provide services for 6 million children with disabilities
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 3,000,000,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 3,298,879,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 3,000,000,000
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -298,879,000(-9%)

Strengthening Teacher Skills (Eisenhower Professional Development)
Upgrades teacher training
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 275,000,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 610,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: ELIMINATED
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -610,000,000(-100%)

Star Schools
Uses technology to link over 6,000 schools to high quality instruction
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 23,000,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 25,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: ELIMINATED
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -25,000,000(-100%)

Block Grant to States -- Title VI
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 275,000,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: ELIMINATED
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 608,517,000*
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: +608,517,000*
*Includes funds from programs that would be eliminated ($10,039,000 from foreign language assistance, $23,000,000 from Star Schools, and $275,000,000 from Eisenhower Teacher Training).

Charter Schools
Expands public school choice for parents
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 18,000,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 40,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 18,000,000
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -22,000,000(-55%)

Technology Challenge Grants/National Programs
Local competitive grants for exemplary programs
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 48,000,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 75,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 48,000,000
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -27,000,000(-36%)

Technology Literacy Fund
Provides students access to computers and teachers training for using technology in classrooms
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: Not applicable
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 250,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: NOT FUNDED
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -250,000,000(-100%)

Bilingual/Immigrant Education
Helps children learn English and other core subjects
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 188,039,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 261,700,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 167,190,000
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -94,510,000(-36%)

Indian Education
Improves academic standards for Indian children
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 52,497,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 81,500,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 52,497,000
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -29,003,000(-36%)

Gifted and Talented Education(Javits)
Helps to identify and serve gifted students
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 3,000,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 10,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 3,000,000
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -7,000,000(-70%)

School-to-Work
Provides support to local partnerships to strengthen students' workforce skills
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 180,000,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 200,000,000**
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 175,000,000**
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -25,000,000(-13%)
**An identical amount is included in the budget for the Department of Labor which jointly administers this program.

Vocational Ed Basic Grants
Provides students career preparation and occupational skills
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 972,750,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 1,100,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 972,750,000
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -127,250,000(-12%)

Adult Ed State Grants
Helps 4 million adults learn reading skills
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 250,000,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 290,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 250,000,000
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -40,000,000(-14%)

Pell Grants
Provides aid for 3.6 million low-income college students
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 5,747,000,000***[$2,470 maximum grant]
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 6,425,000,000***[$2,700 maximum grant]
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 5,833,000,000***[$2,500 maximum grant]
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -592,000,000(-9%)[-$200 maximum grant]
***Appropriation plus carry-over funds used to support maximum grant.

College Work Study
Provides students with employment opportunities to earn financial aid for college
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 616,508,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 679,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 685,000,000
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: +6,000,000(+1%)

Perkins Loans
Provides new capital for campus-based loans for needy students
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 93,297,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 158,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: ELIMINATED
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -158,000,000(-100%)

TRIO
Provides additional academic preparation to help 700,000 students enter and complete college
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 462,993,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 500,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: 500,000,000
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -------

Byrd Scholarships
Provides $1,100 merit awards to 26,000 new and continuing students
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: 29,117,000
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 29,117,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: ELIMINATED
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -29,117,000(-100%)

Presidential Honors Scholarships
Would provide a $1,000 scholarship to 130,000 students graduating in the top 5% of their high school class
FY 1996 APPROPRIATION: Not applicable
PRESIDENT'S FY 1997 BUDGET REQUEST: 130,000,000
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS FY 1997 BILL: NOT FUNDED
DIFFERENCE -- PRESIDENT VS. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS: -130,000,000(-100%)