According to an analysis released last month by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, more than two thirds of families in Massachusetts last year still required approximately $6300 beyond financial aid to afford a college education. Faced with such a hardship, many students drop out, saying the costs are too steep. Those who do complete their degrees are often saddled with thousands of dollars in student loans, which can take years, often decades, to pay off. In today’s competitive workforce, a college education is more important than ever. But thanks to skyrocketing tuition and student loan interest rates, it is becomingly increasingly out of reach for millions of America’s youth – many of them right here in Massachusetts.

A college education means more than ever in today’s economy, yet the administration in Washington, which promised to leave no child behind, has done nothing to make college more affordable for young people. In fact, President Bush recently broke his famous 1999 promise to veto ANY tax increase by signing into law a tax cut bill which TRIPLES the tax rates for teenagers with college savings funds. The wealthiest Americans once again received a fat check in the mail courtesy of the federal government, while students who scrimped and saved for college are picking up the taxpaying slack. That’s not leadership. That’s failure on the part of a president who is out-of-touch and out of credibility. This president’s priorities are dead wrong, and it’s young Americans, like Gina, who are paying the price.

While the government continues to spend billions of dollars on the war in Iraq and tax cuts for the ultra-rich, the average student loan debt is approaching $20,000 and the loan interest rate has reached a six-year high. It is time for us to have the courage to stand up and say that it should be a right – not a privilege – to have access to a four-year college education. For America to compete and win in the global economy, we need an educated, skillful workforce ready to meet the demands of the 21st century. Making college education affordable for all is nothing less than an investment in our country’s future.

There’s a lot of rhetoric on this subject from politicians of every stripe, but few solutions. Education is one of those issues that provokes feel-good sound bites on the campaign trail, but is quickly tossed off to the side after the election to be forgotten for another four years. It’s time that Washington stop paying lip service to our children’s future and start taking real steps to make college education as universal as a high school diploma. That’s why I’ve proposed a four point plan to put college within reach for every American family.

First, the government must help at-risk students prepare for college. Too often, underprivileged youth are not prepared, academically or socially, for attending college. This must change. The government should create “I Have a Dream” scholarships which would provide $1000 for students to participate in an early intervention program to help prepare them for college. These scholarships would be similar to the Gear Up, Trio, Hoop Dreams or High Hope programs. No young person should be denied the dream of a college education because of their economic background. “I Have a Dream” scholarships would help make that dream a reality for underprivileged youth.

Second, the government should help students pay for college by creating the “College Opportunity Tax Credit” program. Instead of raising taxes on college-bound youth, as President Bush has, the program would provide a tax credit for the first $4000 paid in tuition for every year of college. Students who give back to their community would be rewarded under the “Service for College” program, which would pay for the cost of four years of a public college or university in exchange for two years of community service. Students would enrich themselves and their communities through public service while at the same time earning an education.

Third, the government must also help ensure that students remain enrolled and graduate from college. The “State Tax Relief and Education Fund” would provide fiscal relief to cash-strapped states to stop tuition increases and higher education budget cuts. Through this fund, universities would be able to operate without the threat of state budget cuts and therefore provide a higher level of service and academic quality to their students. Through this program, colleges would be able to provide more funds for counseling and support services to keep students in college.

Fourth, it’s time to renew America’s sense of service and offer young people an unbeatable deal. It’s as simple as this: if you promise to serve for two years in one of America’s toughest and most important jobs, like day care providers or teachers in low income communities, the government will cover four years of tuition at a typical public university. It’s a win-win deal for all parties in involved. Students get a free education – and we get well-educated graduates willing to work in some of our most critical fields.

These are all simple, common sense solutions we can implement today to make college a reality for all Americans. Annie knows the importance of a college education and is doing everything within her power to make it a reality for herself. It’s time we step up to help Annie, and students like her. In 1957, after the launch of Sputnik, Americans were concerned that our national scientific education standards couldn’t keep pace with the Soviet Union. In response, the government poured money into funding science and math education in order to close the “technology gap.” Once again, we are at a crossroads, and the decisions we make now will determine whether America remains a global leader in commerce, science, technology and the arts. It’s time for us to take action and ensure that our youth can afford the education and skills they need to succeed in today’s world. The very future of America is at stake, since our ability to compete in the economy of tomorrow depends on our ability to secure skills and training today.