[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998

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                               speech of

                          HON. CASS BALLENGER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 1997

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2264) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1998, and for other purposes:

  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Chairman, I want to express my strong support for 
Representative Goodling's amendment which prohibits any money under 
this bill to be used to develop, plan, implement, or administer 
President Clinton's new national testing program.
  In government classes taught all over this country, we learn about 
the three Federal branches of Government and their functions granted 
under the U.S. Constitution. I've been out of the classroom for a while 
now; however, I'm quite sure that article I, section I of the 
Constitution hasn't changed since I was in school. This section states 
that ``All legislative powers herein shall be vested in a Congress of 
the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of 
Representatives.'' With this in mind, my colleague from Pennsylvania 
shouldn't even have to offer this amendment because Congress has not 
authorized these tests.
  During the President's 1997 State of the Union Address, he proposed 
that individualized national tests be given to fourth grade students in 
reading and math. Instead of seeking congressional approval for this 
new education policy, the Department of Education has decided to ignore 
the Congress and move ahead with the development of these tests with 
the intent of administering the tests beginning in 1999. Even if one 
supports the President's standardized national testing program, which I 
don't, shouldn't this be debated and decided in the U.S. Congress and 
not by Presidential edict? This appropriations bill, if not amended to 
include Representative Goodling's language on national testing, leaves 
the door wide open for the Department of Education to continue work in 
this area.
  In addition to the fact that Congress has been bypassed in this 
policy decision, we need to look at the overall issue of national 
testing. In 1997, the Federal Government will spend roughly $540 
million to test students. Do we really need another testing program? I 
think money could be better spent on the learning process and teacher 
training. National tests aren't going to arm our students with the 
tools they need to gain a world-class education.
  I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Even if you support 
the concept of national testing, you should support the Goodling 
amendment and permit an open debate on the issue in the Congress 
instead of letting the President and the Department of Education create 
policy.


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