Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 6.djvu/646

 110 STAT. 4468 CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS-JUNE 13, 1996 (1) over the last 60 years, education and advancements in knowledge have accounted for 37 percent of our Nation's economic growth; (2) a college degree significantly increases job stability, resulting in an unemplo)ment rate among college graduates less than half that of those with high school diplomas; (3) a person with a bachelor's degree will average 50- 55 percent more in lifetime earnings than a person with a high school diploma; (4) education is a key to providing alternatives to crime and violence, and is a cost-effective strategy for breaking cycles of poverty and moving welfare recipients to work; (5) a highly educated populace is necessary to the effective functioning of democracy and to a growing economy, and the opportunity to gain a college education helps advance the American ideals of progress and social equality; (6) a highly educated and flexible work force is an essential component of economic growth and competitiveness; (7) for many families, Federal Student Aid programs make the difference in the ability of students to attend college; (8) in 1994, nearly 6 million postsecondary students received some kind of financial assistance to help them pay for the costs of schooling; (9) since 1988, college costs have risen by 54 percent, and student borrowing has increased by 219 percent; (10) in fiscal year 1996, the Balanced Budget Act achieved savings without reducing student loan limits or increasing fees to students or parents; and (11) under this budget resolution student loans will increase from $26.6 biliion today to $37.4 bilHon in 2002; the Congressional Budget Office projects that these are the exact same levels that would occur under President Clinton's student loan policies. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.— It is the sense of Congress that the aggregates and functional levels included in this budget resolution assume that savings in student loans can be achieved without any program change that would increase costs to students and parents or decrease accessibility to student loans. SEC. 414. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ADDITIONAL CHARGES UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. (a) FINDINGS.— Congress finds that— (1) senior citizens must spend more than 1 dollar in 5 of their limited incomes to purchase the health care they need; (2) % of spending under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act is for senior citizens with annual incomes of less than $15,000; (3) fee-for-service cost increases have forced higher outof-pocket costs for seniors; and (4) the current Medicare managed care experience has demonstrated that Medicare HMO enrollees face lower out-of-pocket costs when they join HMO's in competitive markets; also, over one half of these enrollees pay no Medicare premiums and receive extra benefits free of charge, such as prescription drugs and eye glasses, due to competitive market forces. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS. —I t is the sense of Congress that any reconciliation bill considered during the second session of the

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