While students move into dormitory rooms and buy books, their parents are working to meet the challenge of the ever-rising costs of a college education. With one daughter in college and two other children soon to follow, my wife Gayle and I share the concerns many families have about the expenses associated with the college experience. The issue has received a lot of attention on Capitol Hill. The tax relief bill approved earlier this month is the latest in a series of initiatives to make higher education more affordable and accessible.
Families also benefit from the per-child tax credit included in the bill.
Legislation reauthorizing the Higher Education Act last year set the lowest student loan interest rate in 17 years and increased funding for the College Work-Study program to enable more students to earn money while they attend classes. The program will reach four million students in the 1999-2000 school year. The U.S. has a world-class system of higher education offering unlimited potential for those with the desire to learn. Our recent legislative efforts are designed to make it easier for hard-working American families to take advantage of the opportunity.