[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 15 (Tuesday, February 22, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        AN OPEN RULE FOR H.R. 6

  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday the House will consider 
important education legislation, H.R. 6. This Member strongly urges the 
Rules Committee to grant an open rule on this bill. It is important, as 
one of several examples, that there be an opportunity to offer an 
amendment similar to the one offered in committee by the gentleman from 
Texas [Mr. Armey] regarding home schooling and that there is an 
opportunity to perhaps permit a Member to offer an amendment which 
clarifies that the bill does not mandate outcome-based-education.
  The Armey amendment must be allowed to be offered on the House floor 
because of the way it was handled in committee. A significant number of 
Americans have doubts about the intentions of the Federal Government, 
the Department of Education, and the Education and Labor Committee. 
They are concerned that the Federal Government is beginning to move in 
the direction of certifying teachers in home and private schools.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my colleagues that under Article X of 
the U.S. Constitution, the responsibility to provide and regulate 
education is given to States; in spite of the views of activists inside 
and outside of Congress, there is no Federal role.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, this Member urges the Rules Committee to bring 
H.R. 6 to the House floor under an open rule or at least allow a 
generous number of amendments covering all the controversial aspects of 
this legislation. Failing to do so, they are going to be surprised how 
many negative votes there are for H.R. 6.

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