[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              SUPPORT THE IMPROVING AMERICA'S SCHOOLS ACT

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
6, the Improving America's Schools Act which the House will consider 
tomorrow. This bill reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act and provides Federal education assistance to 90 percent of all 
school districts in our country.
  This bill is the product of 13 months of work by the House Education 
and Labor Committee during which we held over 30 hearings and had 
countless hours of meetings with community representatives, parents and 
education professionals. This bill will propel our Nation's 
public schools into the next century with the momentum they need to 
succeed.

  While there are a great many positive aspects of this bill, many of 
you may have been approached with some concerns about this legislation. 
Specifically, there has been a misinterpretation of this bill which 
implies that it would cover home and private schools to certify their 
teachers. This is simply not true. However, in light of the 
controversy, it is my understanding that an amendment has been drafted 
to clarify that only public schools are affected by this section of the 
bill or the 2124(e) section will be deleted.
  As a State senator, I supported the rights of parents to home school 
their children, and I continue to support this right. It should be 
noted that it was never the intention of the committee to cover home 
schoolers under the certification provision and was even stated so in 
committee. It is our public schools that are in need of assistance, and 
this provision was designed to set them in the right direction.
  H.R. 6 is a good bill innovative ideas and new funding for programs 
that affect every part of this country. The bill will reach millions of 
children all over our country and will give them the opportunity for a 
quality education. I ask that Members support H.R. 6 and I encourage 
Members not to weaken this bill through amendments that serve to 
protect the status quo in our public schools.

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