[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H1720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ARE MORE PROGRAMS THE ANSWER

  (Mr. JONES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, despite large increases in Federal spending, 
test scores for students in the United States continue to fall. In 
fact, according to a recent study, United States students scored far 
below Japanese and British students in all subjects for which there 
were comparisons. In some subjects, Japanese students came very close 
to doubling scores of United States students. So, what is the 
President's answer to this problem? More spending and more programs.
  This is not the answer. Last week, Chairman Goodling held a press 
conference to discuss his committee's finding that there are 760 
Federal education programs scattered throughout 39 separate 
departments, agencies, and commissions. This web of Federal programs 
costs over $120 billion per year to educate citizens on everything from 
the disposal of boat sewage to citizenship. Each of these programs has 
its own application process, and each requires large amounts of staff 
time to administer--on the Federal, State, and local levels. Money 
spent on redundant programs is money not spent on our children.
  This must change.

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