[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 127 (Wednesday, August 2, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE

                                 ______


                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, August 2, 1995
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman and colleagues, I rise today to remind us 
all that the future of our Nation lies with our children. We hear those 
words so often that they are almost a cliche--but do we listen? Do we 
understand what that must mean as we develop our budget priorities?
  As an educator, a former university professor, and a former president 
of the San Diego Board of Education, I am in a unique position here in 
Congress--I have first-hand knowledge of the importance of Federal 
funding to students of all ages and all communities. And I want you to 
know that I have serious concerns about the direction we are taking in 
the current budget deliberations.
  For example, the San Diego School District--one of the school 
districts in my congressional district--stands to lose a minimum of $12 
million in fiscal year 1996. Although students in every school in the 
district will be affected, the students most in need will be hit the 
hardest if we vote to slash title I as is currently proposed. Schools 
with a high number of students and families in poverty and low 
achieving students will receive the deepest and most severe cuts.
  Title I funding helps disadvantaged children to better learn and 
achieve high educational standards. The proposed cuts in title I 
funding will devastate this program currently operating in the San 
Diego schools. A total of 50 schools will be eliminated from the 
program, and more than 11,000 children will not be served. Supplemental 
reading and math programs will be eliminated, as well as parental 
involvement activities. The very resources needed to raise student 
achievement and to meet the high standards we all want will be taken 
away.
  In addition, the 127,000 students served by Impact Aid, the 31,000 
students served by the Bilingual Education Program, the 17,000 students 
served by School-to-Work funding, and the 127,000 students affected by 
the Safe & Drug-Free Schools funding will suffer from the $700,000 cut 
to Impact Aid, the $1 million cut to Bilingual Education, the $140,000 
cut to School-to-Work and the $500,000 cut to Safe & Drug-Free Schools. 
These cuts are for one school district. Multiply that by the thousands 
of districts in the Nation.
  Perhaps the most foolish action in the bill pending before us is the 
cut of $137 million for Head Start. The money we spend to give our 
youngsters a head start makes for productive citizens and pays 
dividends in the future. We should be putting more money into Head 
Start--not less.
  In California, the economic decline of the past several years means 
that State and local economics cannot absorb the huge financial burden 
that will be shifted to them. The loss of instruction, the lay-offs of 
teachers and staff, and the lessening of the quality of education 
resulting from these proposed cuts cannot be replaced at the local 
level. The Federal Government has a role, an obligation, and a 
responsibility to participate in the education of our children.
  Our children are our future. Let us make them a priority. I urge my 
colleagues to do our part. Support the Federal investment in the future 
and reject the severe cuts proposed for the coming fiscal year.


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