E340 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks February 13, 2007

for students, families, and taxpayers. This bill GEORGE MILLER, to reintroduce our Student schools are contingent upon actual taxpayer will not only increase efficiency in the loan Aid Reward (STAR) Act, which would provide savings that year. We are confident that these programs, but will also generate increased billions of dollars in additional aid to students savings not only exist, but amount to several competition, resulting in increased benefits for at no additional cost to taxpayers. Now, more billion dollars annually. Both the CBO and students and families. than ever, millions of low and middle-income OMB continue to confirm this year after year. The Student Aid Reward Act has also been families are struggling to help their children at- The overarching reason that the FFEL pro- introduced in the Senate by Senators EDWARD tend college in the face of rising tuition costs gram is so much more expensive than the DL KENNEDY and GORDON SMITH. and limited financial assistance. The STAR program is the excessive subsidies paid to No qualified person should ever be pre- Act is a fiscally-responsible plan that could lenders each year to issue loans. As all lend- vented from going to college because of the help make college more affordable and acces- ers are guaranteed the exact same subsidies, cost. We must ensure that every student in sible for these students. regardless of their costs and efficiency, lend- this country has the opportunity to pursue their The STAR Act is rooted in my longstanding ers do not compete for the benefit of tax- dreams. belief that we have a fundamental obligation to payers, only among themselves for market f our constituents to eliminate waste, fraud, and share. This practice is not only unnecessary abuse in government spending wherever it ex- but it is irresponsible—especially when the DL VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT SA- ists. Our legislation would encourage colleges program has no similar costs. LUTES FATHER ROBERT DRINAN and universities to utilize the less expensive of The taxpayers not only pay interest sub- the federal government’s two main student sidies to private lenders, they also subsidize HON. loan programs. In doing so, the Congressional the 13 guaranty agencies that purchase loans OF Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the STAR from the lenders after a certain period of time IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Act would save taxpayers $13.4 billion in has passed. This is also a wasteful practice— Tuesday, February 13, 2007 wasteful subsidies—which would instead be especially when the DL program has no simi- devoted to increase student aid to low and lar cost. Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Madam middle-income students who need it most. I would like to reiterate that this legislation Speaker, last week, several of my colleagues The real opportunity in this legislation is that would in no way mandate that schools choose and I memorialized the life and record of the it would allow for an increased investment in the DL program over the FFEL program, or late Father Robert Drinan, one of the most education while not costing taxpayers a single even that the DL program will always nec- distinguished people to have served in this penny more. In fact, under the STAR program, essarily be the most cost-effective program. body. Father Drinan’s political career began in there would be enough savings not only to re- Instead, the legislation stipulates that the Sec- 1970 when he ran for Congress as an oppo- turn half to schools that switch to the more retary of Education shall determine each year nent of American participation in the cost-effective program, but also to provide an which program is most cost-effective to tax- War. He was a consistent fighter for peace additional 25 percent of those savings to payers and that schools who participate in that throughout his life. When I returned to my dis- schools that were previously enrolled in the program receive some of the savings. The trict last weekend, I received from Father cost-effective program and thus already saving Secretary would do this by making use of the Drinan’s sister-in-law, Helen Drinan, a woman taxpayers money. The final 25 percent would best data available each year. who played a very important role in nurturing be devoted towards deficit reduction. Madam Speaker, I believe that as stewards his political career, a copy of a letter she had All these savings are to be made possible of taxpayers’ money, Congress should always received that meant a great deal to her and due to the startling difference in the cost be- seek to make government more efficient and the Drinan family. tween the two federal student loan programs. more accountable. Our legislation is smart pol- The letter is from the Vietnamese Ambas- For the current fiscal year, the Federal Family icy: voluntary for schools, fiscally-responsible, sador to the United States, hailing Father Education Loan (FFEL) program costs more and would provide over $10 billion in addi- Drinan ‘‘as a tenacious advocate for social jus- than the exact same loan administered under tional aid over the next 10 years. I encourage tice and a resilient fighter for peace.’’ Madam the Direct Loan (DL) program. According to my colleagues to join Rep. MILLER and me in Speaker, I ask that this letter from the Govern- President Bush’s 2008 education budget, stu- cosponsoring this legislation. ment of Vietnam to the Drinan family be print- dent loans made through the more expensive f ed here. program in 2007 cost $3 more for every $100 EMBASSY OF VIETNAM, lent than the same loans made with U.S. RECOGNIZING NICOLE MAYHEW AS Washington, DC, January 31, 2007. Treasury funds. SANTA ROSA COUNTY, FLOR- Mrs. HELEN DRINAN, IDA’S TEACHER OF THE YEAR Newton, MA. Beyond the Office of Management and DEAR MRS. DRINAN, On behalf of the people Budget, other budget experts continue to con- and Government of Vietnam, I would like to firm this cost difference. Earlier this week, the HON. JEFF MILLER extend the most profound condolences to you Congressional Budget Office released a score OF FLORIDA and to your family on the passing of your that projected savings from this amendment in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES brother-in-law, Father and Congressman the amount of $13.4 billion over the next 10 Tuesday, February 13, 2007 Robert F. Drinan. years—and that’s if only 15 percent of col- Father Robert F. Drinan will be always re- Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, on membered by many as a tenacious advocate leges choose to participate in the Student Aid for social justice and a resilient fighter for Reward program by switching from the FFEL behalf of the U.S. Congress, it is an honor for peace. For the Vietnamese people, he will re- to the DL program. Those savings would be me to rise today to recognize Nicole Mayhew main a staunch fighter who made significant even more substantial with increased partici- as Santa Rosa County’s Teacher of the Year. contribution to ending to the Vietnam War pation. As a native of Northwest Florida, Nicole in the 1970s, thus bringing peace to the coun- It is important to note that the STAR Act Mayhew joined the Santa Rosa County School try after so many decades of wars. would not mandate that schools select the District administration in 1996, after graduating May your family overcome this most dif- most cost-effective program, although we from the University of West Florida with a de- ficult time. hope that they would. Under this bill, each col- gree in Primary/Elementary Education. Mrs. Respectfully, Mayhew has proudly served the School Dis- NGUYEN TAM CHIEN, lege retains their ability to choose their student Ambassador. loan program. Those who choose to be more trict for over 10 years, where she currently teaches first grade at West Navarre Primary f responsible with taxpayers money would be rewarded with a portion of the savings. Those School in Navarre, Florida. On January 26, INTRODUCTION OF THE STUDENT that decide to continue with the more expen- 2007, with her husband Steven and her AID REWARD (STAR) ACT OF 2007 sive program face no penalties, other than a daughter Erin by her side, Nicole Mayhew was missed opportunity to use taxpayer savings to announced Teacher of the Year. HON. THOMAS E. PETRI boost their students’ Pell Grants. Furthermore, Mrs. Mayhew serves as a mentor to begin- OF each school would have the choice to leave ning teachers and supervises teachers from IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the STAR program at the end of their 5-year the University of West Florida. She is a mem- contract if they are not satisfied with the re- ber of the Santa Rosa County, Florida Read- Tuesday, February 13, 2007 sults for their students. ing Council and West Navarre Primary Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, today I am A critical component of this program is that School’s Parent-Teacher Organization, PTO, again joining with my colleague, Chairman it is budget neutral. Any reward payments to an organization of Parents and Teachers that

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