[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 13, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H2126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 BIG GOVERNMENT, NO; BUT EDUCATION, YES

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would simply say that big 
government is over, but I think my Republican colleagues think that 
opportunity for children is over as well. This Republican Congress is 
the bashing education Congress. They refuse to include in this 
continuing resolution resources for education. In fact, in my home 
State of Texas, we will lose $97.8 million in title I funds, $8.5 
million in funds for the safe and drug-free schools program, and Harris 
County alone will lose $7.9 million in title I funds.
  Do my colleagues know what school boards around this Nation are 
doing? They are presently wondering whether we are going to be able to 
hire teachers to teach our children. Big government is one thing. We 
all agree we must reinvent government. But what do Members believe 
about educating their children and having Goals 2000 that emphasizes 
quality education? Republicans apparently do not believe in it. The 
Congress will not even fund good education programs--promoting computer 
and reading literacy among disadvantaged children.
  The irony of it is that the Senate has agreed that we need job 
training and education. They voted 84 to 16 to put in some $2.7 billion 
for education. We are not listening over here. What else do we not 
have? Summer job programs. We do not have summer jobs for our 
youngsters, the Senate agreed summer jobs for our youth should be 
funded. I wish they would listen. Education, yes; big government, no.

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