[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE

  (Mr. HASTINGS of Florida asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from 
Florida for her remembering our colleague, Frank Tejeda.
  Mr. Speaker, as we all know, a high quality learning environment is 
essential to educating our Nation's children. Many may wonder why the 
President last night spent so much time on the issue usually discussed 
by State and local government.
  Well, I believe his concern is warranted. Take Palm Beach and Broward 
Counties, parts of which I represent, for example. These school systems 
educate more students from prekindergarten through grade 12 than they 
can handle. Our schools are pushed to the limit, a limit that some 
consider to be critically overcrowded.
  Mr. Speaker, the school doors are bursting at the seams in south 
Florida and around the Nation. Our schools need our help. Thus, 
America's leaders need to be partners in education. This partnership 
among Federal, State, and local governments should be based on a 
balance between leadership and local flexibility. The goal is to direct 
resources to the local level to help our communities build much needed 
schools to alleviate overcrowding.
  It is crucial, Mr. Speaker, that we work together to find the 
necessary funds for our schools.

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