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other items are your most important need.
In working on this legislation I have discovered how federal bureaucracies are more interested in perpetuating their existence rather than improving our schools. But I will not be deterred by this irritating roadblock and will push ahead for this priority reform.
The second piece of legislation I am working on is a bill which I have co-sponsored, H.R. 3967, to redirect more than $60 million in Pell Grant funds from convicted felons to middle-income college students.
These Pell Grants, which are taxpayers’ funds, are currently pouring into our nation’s prison system for education programs. This prevents hardworking, middle-class individuals from receiving the federal student aid by this improper depletion of funds available for college students.
It may seem unbelievable that federal tax dollars are being used to give Pell Grants to prisoners, but it’s happening. The $160 million, if redirected, could provide $2,400 grants to over 65,000 students who are finding it increasingly difficult to finance their higher education, especially in Virginia. Under H.R. 3967, Pell Grants would be targeted to help students from working families.
There are other reforms needed to improve education in the United States. The essential ingredient, however, is to encourage and allow parents to be more involved in the education of their sons and daughters. Education must begin at home and be constantly nurtured there.
Over the years American parents have turned too much of their responsibility for education over to government—local, state and federal. And, the state and local governments have in some cases usurped parental responsibility.
We must find ways to get parents more involved with their children individually and also with their local schools. I was pleased that legislation allowing local option for elected school boards, which I strongly supported as a member of the House of Delegates, has finally been enacted into law in Virginia. This will help make local school systems more accountable to parents and the community at large.
(Mr. Allen represents the 7th District of Virginia, which includes Rappahannock.—Ed.)
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