We know that China and India are generating scientists and engineers at a
furious pace while America lags dangerously behind. Study after study
calls for the government to act to address this problem. Passage of this
program represents real action.

The new student aid program I created is called a SMART Grant. SMART
Grants will provide $4000 per year to Pell Grant-eligible students who
maintain a 3.0 GPA and major in math, science, engineering, technology, or
foreign languages critical to national security during their third and
fourth years of college. That means a Pell Grant-eligible student will
obtain up to $8000 in additional assistance toward the cost of college if
he or she chooses to major in those fields. These funds will incentivize
more students to major in these time-intensive studies and help America
produce the workforce it needs to compete in today’s global economy.

The bill also provides Academic Competitiveness Grants to first and second
year students. $750 will go to first year students who complete a rigorous
high school curriculum, and $1300 will go to second year students who
complete a rigorous high school curriculum and maintain a 3.0 GPA in
college. President Bush and Chairman Boehner (R-OH) deserve praise and
credit for their leadership on these grants.

I have attached a chart that summarizes the tremendous college savings
students can achieve through the SMART and Academic Competitiveness
programs. SMART Grant recipients will save up to 75% on their college
education!

The SMART and Academic Competitiveness Grants are authorized at $3.75
billion over five years and are paid for with program savings included in
the budget deficit reduction bill approved by the Senate this morning.

These grants will help sustain America’s global legacy as a land of
innovation, imagination, and initiative. I invite you to spread the word –
please tell students, teachers, parents, and community leaders about SMART
and the difference these grants will make to America’s students and the
country as a whole.

Bill Frist

P.S. Viewing the attached chart requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which may
be downloaded at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html free
of charge.

(See attached file: FINAL SMART Chart.pdf)