Providing for Consideration of H.R. 5, Student Success Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his unceasing efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this rule and H.R. 5 because the Republican bill fails America's students.

Mr. Speaker, America's public schools are the envy of the world. We're fortunate to live in a country that believes that every child should be educated and given the opportunity to succeed in life. Our public schools are one of the best examples of American values. No matter where a child comes from, no matter what challenges a student faces in life--a disability, autism, poverty--that student can receive a good education.

Our local public schools are largely community-based and locally run; but the Federal Government provides important support, especially for working-class communities and for students with disabilities and learning challenges. We have important work to do to continue to improve public schools and recruit good teachers; but under this bill, Republicans want to go in the other direction.

The Republican bill before the House today proposes a harsh prescription for students and families who seek better schools and talented teachers. H.R. 5 guts education funding for students and teachers by over $1 billion below last year's levels at a time when we want high-quality curricula, and States and local school districts have been challenged financially.

Back home in my Tampa Bay area district in Florida, I have over 200 title 1 schools, like Foster Elementary in Hillsborough County and Woodlawn Elementary in Pinellas County. These are students from working-class families. Over 90 percent of these students qualify for free and reduced lunch. It is the longtime compact between the Federal Government and our local schools that ensures support to these students that do not come from wealthy families. The students who attend these schools range from ones with special needs that require title 1 help to work with exceptional education teachers; English Language Learners that need a little extra help from translators; and students with severe emotional behavior disorders.

The Republican bill retreats from these students and the responsibility to education.

No Child Left Behind has been riddled with problems from the start. Its one-size-fits-all policy hasn't worked, but this Republican bill is not the answer. It's a step backward. And I urge my colleagues to oppose the rule and the underlying bill.

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