[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H1261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MAKE AMERICA STRONGER THROUGH EDUCATION

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, during the recess I attended an 
education forum in conjunction with the Assistant Secretary for 
Elementary and Secondary Education Gerald Tirozzi and Democratic leader 
Dick Gephardt at Travis Elementary School in my district in Houston, 
TX. With the uncertainty over funding levels for elementary and 
secondary education programs and the likelihood of deep budget cuts, 
schools all across our country are having a difficult time planning for 
next year and may even be forced to lay off teachers. The immediate 
result could be fewer teachers, larger classes, and a decline in the 
quality of education. We heard from teachers, parents, school 
administrators, police officers, as well as church officials, who are 
scared to death that their children will not be getting the proper 
preparation they need to compete and win in the new global marketplace.
  We all believe in a balanced budget, deficit reduction, and cutting 
bureaucracy, but we all agreed that cutting education programs is the 
wrong way to achieve these goals. How can we make America stronger if 
we are not willing to invest in the future of America, with our young 
people's education?
  Mr. Speaker, drastic cuts in title I, Goals 2000, the Safe and Drug 
Free Schools, and all other educational programs will cause irreparable 
harm not just to students in Travis Elementary in my district but 
students all across the country and Texas. It is wrong, and we should 
not do it.

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