Sen. John Kerry answers AFT questions on key issues

In early March, AFT On Campus asked Sen. Kerry to share his views on some issues of key importance to our readers - education, terrorism and jobs.

State funding for public colleges and universities has been declining and tuitions have been rising. Is there anything you could do as president to improve the situation?

The Bush economic approach has left states with deep budget deficits, forcing cuts in state funding for higher education. I will create a new State Tax Relief and Education Fund that will provide an additional $25 billion to states for each of the next two years. This fund will help states struggling to bridge deficits resulting from Bush's economic policies and keep states from cutting education funding and raising tuition.

Students today are leaving college with more debt than ever before, and many students are dropping out altogether because they cannot pay the bills. I believe that all Americans deserve the opportunity to attend college. It is critical to their future and to our nation's economy.

I will create a new College Opportunity Tax Credit that will make four years of college affordable for all Americans. I will provide a credit for each and every year of college on the first $4,000 paid in tuition - the typical tuition for public colleges and universities. The credit will provide 100 percent on the first $1,000 and 50 percent on the rest. I will also make this credit refundable so that it helps the most vulnerable students.

Additionally, I have proposed a Service for College plan, which will provide the cost of four years at a public college to young people in exchange for serving their communities and country in national service for two years.

Finally, I believe we need to increase the purchasing power and reliability of the Pell Grant program, which is the foundation of support for low-income students.
 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Much has been accomplished since 1954, but there is still a real achievement gap between advantaged and disadvantaged children. As president, what will you do to address this problem?

Fifty years ago, Brown v. Board of Education dealt a crushing blow to legal segregation in our public schools and promised equal educational opportunity for every American child. The decision's impact went far beyond public education, and we have made great progress since then. But the promise of Brown has not been fully realized. Still too many children have been let down and remain in inferior learning environments, and an intolerable achievement gap persists between our advantaged and disadvantaged children. I will work tirelessly to close the achievement gap and to ensure that every child has access to a high-quality public education.

We need real leadership to help turn around under-resourced schools, not a president who just talks a good game, ripping off a slogan to leave no child behind but failing to come through with the resources. My Education Trust Fund will provide full mandatory funding for the No Child Left Behind Act and for the federal government's share of special education. We need to turn around every low-performing school in this country and ensure that all children can learn to high standards. Every 3- and 4-year-old in poverty should receive the comprehensive cognitive, social/emotional, health and parent-education services needed for success. I'm committed to that.

We need to recruit more teachers to work in underserved communities and provide incentives to make sure that happens. I support teacher training to help teachers get more skills, and will fight to get science and Advanced Placement courses in every school in America. I will not rest until the promise of Brown v. Board of Education is fulfilled for every child in America.
 

How would you encourage currently resistant nations to join in efforts by the United States and others to combat international terrorism?

The United States cannot do everything alone; we cannot pay for everything by ourselves; we cannot defeat the forces of terrorism without others. A global security effort and the war against terrorism require active participation of the international community. As president, I will move quickly to rebuild American alliances and define a global security strategy that is collective not imperial, inclusive not exclusive, and cooperative not unilateralist.

In my first 100 days in office, I will send a message to the world that the United States has rejoined the community of nations, reaching out to strengthen relationships with NATO, old allies and new partners to create a new global coalition to fight terrorism. I will also make it clear that while preemptive military action remains an option, it will only be the policy of the United States when the threat to our national security is truly imminent.

I will work to re-engage the United Nations. The United Nations must play a central role in the war on terror, and in combating AIDS and global poverty. My administration would seek to renew the mandate of the U.N. and also to reform its operations and revitalize its capacity. The United Nations will be seen as an asset, not a liability, to a safer America.

Finally, I will convene a summit with top world leaders to launch a global antiterrorism agenda.
 

How can we maintain open trade relations with other nations and, at the same time, curb the negative effect that some of our international trade agreements have on employment problems here at home?

I will make trade work for America by standing up for American workers and enforcing our trade agreements. The Bush administration has failed to use safeguards that can be used when American industries are hurt; failed to crack down on nations that have violated trade agreements or undermined American exports by manipulating their currency; cut effective programs that save manufacturing jobs; and will not eliminate incentives that encourage companies to move abroad.

George Bush supported cuts to trade enforcement, even though we need more enforcement to stop the drain on American jobs. We have to crack down on countries that violate trade agreements and take action when American industries are hurt. And we must use the full force of the World Trade Organization [WTO] to take on countries, such as Japan and China, that are manipulating their currency to undermine U.S. exports.

I will break down barriers in key export markets. This administration has done little to open key export markets in places like Japan and Korea. For example, auto exports to Japan are still essentially blocked by complicated rules. America must use the tools we have available, including Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, WTO remedies, and diplomatic measures, to open these markets.

Finally, I will order an immediate 120-day review of all existing trade agreements to ensure that our trading partners are living up to their labor and environmental obligations and that trade agreements are enforceable and are balanced for America's workers. I will consider the necessary steps if they are not, and I will not sign any new agreements until the review is complete. I will also not sign any new trade agreements unless they contain strong labor and environmental standards.