[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 127 (Wednesday, August 2, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H8180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REPUBLICAN CUTS IN BILINGUAL EDUCATION

  (Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, the Republican Labor-HHS-Education 
appropriations bill cuts bilingual education programs by 75 percent.
  This massive cut penalizes and punishes children by robbing them of 
their constitutional right to equal educational opportunities.
  The primary objective of bilingual education is to teach children 
English while ensuring they do not fall behind in other basic subjects.
  Numerous studies have documented that many limited English proficient 
students simply cannot learn and compete in the classroom without these 
programs.
  As a result, the Republican plan will create a permanent underclass 
of poorly educated children who will be denied the opportunity to 
achieve their full potential.
  We as a country cannot maintain our competitiveness in an ever-
growing, highly technical global economy unless we develop the talents 
and abilities of all our children.
  The virtual elimination of bilingual education programs works against 
our children and our national interests.


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