[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H1721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CUTS IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS

  (Mrs. CLAYTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, it is inconsistent to talk about building 
for the future, while tearing down the present.
  Yet, Members of this House seem ready to abandon education by making 
the largest cuts in our history, with overall funding for the 
Department of Education likely to be reduced by 25 percent.
  In fiscal year 1949, 9 percent of the Federal budget was spent on 
education. This year it is about 1.4 percent. On education spending, we 
are headed in the wrong direction.
  We talk about restoring families and helping our young people.
  Yet, we take away the very key to their ability to have useful and 
productive lives--the opportunity for an education.
  Recent national polls show that Americans overwhelmingly support 
education and believe that it should be a top priority of Congress. 
Instead of a tax cut for the wealthy, we should put more money into 
education for our children and for the future.
  We must restore these cuts. We must invest in America's families, 
America's children, America's future workers. We must be prepared to 
meet the challenges of the changing global economy.
  Stop the education cuts and secure America's economic future.

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