[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 35 (Thursday, March 14, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H2229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PAYING MORE AND GETTING LESS

  (Mr. MICA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, let me tell Members what this debate is all 
about and what the administration and the liberals are talking about in 
education cuts. They are talking about paying more and getting less.
  Let me read, if I may, about the great success of the programs they 
are talking about and what Republicans are talking about. This just 
appeared in the newspaper in Florida. Many of Florida's training and 
vocational education programs that are supposed to give Floridians the 
skills to find good-paying jobs are not working, according to the 
report.
  State and Federal Governments spend about $1 billion a year on 
vocational education programs in Florida, more than 1.2 million 
residents use the programs, but many of the State's programs fail to 
produce graduates or workers who can earn a decent salary. Most 
students who enter the programs never graduate.
  In all, 37 percent of 347 job training and vocational programs 
perform poorly, according to the report. Only 20 percent of those who 
enrolled in high school vocational programs completed them. They want 
you to pay more and get less, and that is what this argument is about.

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