OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Providing for Further Consideration of H.R. 5, Student Success Act, and Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2647, Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015

Floor Speech

Date: July 8, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: K-12 Education

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, when he first signed into law the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, President Lyndon B. Johnson greatly advanced both education and civil rights.

Now, here, 50 years later, the need for Federal support for our schools remains very real, but Republicans celebrate the anniversary by effectively repealing the civil rights portion, Title I, of this act.

In February, Republicans began consideration of this bill and then suspended it because so many of their Members did not think it was extreme

enough in cutting aid to our schools. Since then, the Senate has come together in a bipartisan, though lacking, approach, but a better approach that recognizes the need for civil rights and public education.
Just as it did previously on immigration reform, the House has rejected that bipartisan approach and has jumped off the right end with a more extreme antieducation attitude.

In a few weeks, bright-faced young schoolchildren will put on their backpacks and head off to school. As their number increases, this bill actually cuts the purchasing power available to our schools to meet those growing needs.

Most importantly, Republicans would encourage the States to divert aid from the schools with the greatest need and to actually use Federal dollars to replace what the States are already spending on education.

Not only does the bill shortchange our schools and our students, it also eliminates dedicated funding for important programs like STEM--science, technology, engineering, and math education. These STEM skills are driving innovation.

It is silent on support for our youngest Americans, as schools across the country recognize that brain research supports having pre-K through 12 education. We need not only accountability but funding. This bill should be rejected. We cannot shut the door on these students.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward