[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 139 Reported in House (RH)]





                                                 House Calendar No. 119

105th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                              H. RES. 139

                          [Report No. 105-349]

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
 Department of Education, States, and local education agencies should 
  spend a greater percentage of Federal education tax dollars in our 
                         children's classrooms.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            October 28, 1997

Reported with an amendment, referred to the House Calendar, and ordered 
                             to be printed





                                                 House Calendar No. 119
105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 139

                          [Report No. 105-349]

     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
 Department of Education, States, and local education agencies should 
  spend a greater percentage of Federal education tax dollars in our 
                         children's classrooms.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 1, 1997

   Mr. Pitts (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Goodling, Mr. 
     Hoekstra, Mr. Istook, Mr. Ryun, Mr. Hulshof, Mr. Norwood, Mr. 
Snowbarger, Mr. English of Pennsylvania, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Chabot, Mr. 
Solomon, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Knollenberg, Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas, Mr. 
Herger, and Mr. Hayworth) submitted the following resolution; which was 
        referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

                            October 28, 1997

   Additional sponsors: Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Cooksey, Mr. Watts of 
 Oklahoma, Mr. Neumann, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Weldon of Florida, Mr. Weldon 
 of Pennsylvania, Mr. Scarborough, Mr. Hefley, Mr. Bachus, Mr. Deal of 
Georgia, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Baker, Mr. Boehner, Ms. Dunn, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. 
Ballenger, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Shadegg, Mr. Klug, Mr. Hill, Mr. 
 Manzullo, Mr. Bob Schaffer of Colorado, Mr. Dickey, Mrs. Emerson, Mr. 
  Royce, Mr. Bass, Mr. Fox of Pennsylvania, Mr. Barton of Texas, Mr. 
 Thune, Mr. Radanovich, Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Cook, Mr. Hostettler, Mr. 
Hastert, Mr. Smith of Michigan, Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Collins, Mr. Spence, 
    Mr. Kingston, Mr. Stenholm, Mrs. Linda Smith of Washington, Mr. 
Redmond, Mr. Talent, Mr. Canady of Florida, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Stump, 
  Mr. Bryant, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Largent, Mr. 
Nussle, Mr. Burr of North Carolina, Mr. Salmon, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Condit, 
Mr. Peterson of Minnesota, Mr. Rogan, Mr. Gillmor, Mrs. Chenoweth, Mr. 
      Kasich, Mr. Tiahrt, Mr. Hilleary, Mr. Weller, and Mr. Pappas

                            October 28, 1997

Reported with an amendment, referred to the House Calendar, and ordered 
                             to be printed
[Strike the preamble and the resolve clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
 Department of Education, States, and local education agencies should 
  spend a greater percentage of Federal education tax dollars in our 
                         children's classrooms.

<DELETED>Whereas we know that effective teaching takes place when we begin (1) 
        helping children master basic academics, (2) engaging and involving 
        parents, (3) creating safe and orderly classrooms, and (4) getting 
        dollars to the classroom;
Whereas our Nation's children deserve an educational system which will provide 
        opportunities to excel;
Whereas States and localities must spend a significant amount of Federal 
        education tax dollars applying for and administering Federal education 
        dollars;
Whereas several States have reported that although they receive less than 10 
        percent of their education funding from the Federal Government, more 
        than 50 percent of their paperwork is associated with those Federal 
        dollars;
Whereas while it is unknown exactly what percentage of Federal education dollars 
        reaches the classroom, a recent audit of New York City public schools 
        found that only 43 percent of their local education budget reaches the 
        classroom. Further, it is thought that only 85 percent of funds 
        administered by the United States Department of Education for elementary 
        and secondary education reach the school district level. Even if 65 
        percent of Federal education funds presently reach the classroom, it 
        still means that billions of dollars are not directly spent on children 
        in the classroom;
Whereas American students are not performing up to their full academic 
        potential, despite the more than 760 Federal education programs, which 
        span 39 Federal agencies at the price of nearly $100,000,000,000 
        annually;
Whereas, according to the Digest of Education Statistics, in 1993 only 
        $141,598,786,000 out of $265,285,370,000 spent on elementary and 
        secondary education was spent on ``instruction'';
Whereas, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 1994 only 
        52 percent of staff employed in public elementary and secondary school 
        systems were teachers;
Whereas too much of our Federal education funding is spent on bureaucracy, and 
        too little is spent on our Nation's youth;
Whereas getting 90 percent of Department of Education elementary and secondary 
        education funds to the classroom could provide approximately $1,800 
        additional funding per classroom across the United States;
Whereas more education funding should be put in the hands of someone in a 
        child's classroom who knows the child's name;
Whereas President Clinton has stated: ``We cannot ask the American people to 
        spend more on education until we do a better job with the money we've 
        got now.'';
Whereas President Clinton and Vice President Gore agree that the reinventing of 
        public education will not begin in Washington but in communities across 
        America and that we must ask fundamental questions about how our public 
        school systems' dollars are spent; and
Whereas President Clinton and Vice President Gore agree that in an age of tight 
        budgets, we should be spending public funds on teachers and children, 
        not on unnecessary overhead and bloated bureaucracy: Now, therefore, be 
        it
<DELETED>    Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges the 
Department of Education, States, and local education agencies to work 
together to ensure that not less than 90 percent of all funds 
appropriated for the purpose of carrying out elementary and secondary 
education programs administered by the Department of Education is spent 
for our children in their classrooms.</DELETED>
    Whereas we know that effective teaching takes place when we begin 
            (1) helping children master basic academics, (2) engaging 
            and involving parents, (3) creating safe and orderly 
            classrooms, and (4) getting dollars to the classroom;
    Whereas our Nation's children deserve an educational system which 
            will provide opportunities to excel;
    Whereas States and localities must spend a significant amount of 
            Federal education tax dollars applying for and 
            administering Federal education dollars;
    Whereas several States have reported that although they receive 
            less than 10 percent of their education funding from the 
            Federal Government, more than 50 percent of their paperwork 
            is associated with those Federal dollars;
    Whereas while it is unknown exactly what percentage of Federal 
            education dollars reaches the classroom, a recent audit of 
            New York City public schools found that only 43 percent of 
            their local education budget reaches the classroom. 
            Further, it is thought that only 85 percent of funds 
            administered by the United States Department of Education 
            for elementary and secondary education reach the school 
            district level. Even if 65 percent of Federal education 
            funds presently reach the classroom, it still means that 
            billions of dollars are not directly spent on children in 
            the classroom;
    Whereas American students are not performing up to their full 
            academic potential, despite significant Federal education 
            initiatives, which span multiple Federal agencies;
    Whereas, according to the Digest of Education Statistics, in 1993 
            only $141,598,786,000 out of $265,285,370,000 spent on 
            elementary and secondary education was spent on 
            ``instruction'';
    Whereas, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 
            in 1994 only 52 percent of staff employed in public 
            elementary and secondary school systems were teachers;
    Whereas too much of our Federal education funding is spent on 
            bureaucracy, and too little is spent on our Nation's youth;
    Whereas getting 90 percent of Department of Education elementary 
            and secondary education funds to the classroom could 
            provide substantial additional funding per classroom across 
            the United States;
    Whereas more education funding should be put in the hands of 
            someone in a child's classroom who knows the child's name;
    Whereas burdensome regulations and mandates should be removed so 
            that school districts can devote more resources to children 
            in classrooms;
    Whereas President Clinton has stated: ``We cannot ask the American 
            people to spend more on education until we do a better job 
            with the money we've got now.'';
    Whereas President Clinton and Vice President Gore agree that the 
            reinventing of public education will not begin in 
            Washington but in communities across America and that we 
            must ask fundamental questions about how our public school 
            systems' dollars are spent; and
    Whereas President Clinton and Vice President Gore agree that in an 
            age of tight budgets, we should be spending public funds on 
            teachers and children, not on unnecessary overhead and 
            bloated bureaucracy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges the Congress, the 
Department of Education, States, and local educational agencies to--
            (1) determine the extent to which Federal elementary and 
        secondary education dollars are currently reaching the 
        classroom;
            (2) work together to remove barriers that currently prevent 
        a greater percentage of funds from reaching the classroom; and
            (3) work toward the goal that at least 90 percent of the 
        United States Department of Education elementary and secondary 
        education program funds will ultimately reach classrooms, when 
        feasible and consistent with applicable law.