Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Friday, September 18, 2009

Congress helping to make college affordable

To the Editor:

As Congress works to turn our economy around as quickly as possible, we must also put policies in place that ensure America's economic strength for generations to come. Providing top-notch education and training opportunities for our workforce is essential to achieving that goal.

Over the course of a lifetime, a worker with a college degree will earn nearly $1 million more than one with only a high school diploma. But unfortunately, the rising cost of a college education is preventing many talented Hoosiers from reaching their full potential.

Congress has already taken some important steps to address this problem; cutting the interest rate for undergraduates with subsidized loans in half and updating the GI Bill to increase benefits for recent veterans.

This week, the House made additional progress by approving the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The bill eliminates unnecessary federal subsidies to banks and private lenders, allowing us to make critical investments in student aid and return $10 billion to the Treasury to pay down the debt.

The bill invests billions of dollars in student aid, increasing the need-based Pell Grant scholarship maximum award amount to $5,550 next year and strengthening the campus-based Perkins Loan program, which provides low-cost federal loans to students.

It also provides $10 billion to help community colleges prepare students for the workforce and re-train displaced workers. The money will be used to strengthen partnerships with businesses and local job training programs to ensure that our workforce has the skills and training necessary to meet the demands of local businesses and industries.

It's a smart, fiscally-responsible policy and I hope the Senate will pass it soon.

U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth

Evansville

Shakamak appreciates help with supplies

To the Editor:

The students, teachers and staff of Shakamak Elementary would like to thank the following people for their kind donations of back to school supplies:

Jasonville Dollar General Store

Francie Keller

Sue Hubbell

Patsy Hill

Bloomfield Family Life Center

Linton Walmart

You have helped many students get off to a good start for a new school year.

Your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated.

Jamie Kocher

school nurse

MSD of Shakamak

Donations still being accepted in Worthington

To the Editor:

Thank you all who had yard sales this year. Seems to get bigger every year.

If you were missed when the people came around for donations and wish to donate to the Worthington Lions Club, this is our fundraiser of the year.

Send to Glen Cundiff, president of the Worthington Lions Club.

515 W. Main Street

Worthington, Ind., 47471

Thanks again.

Glen Cundiff

Worthington