[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 120 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DEMOCRATS PUSH NATIONAL EDUCATION AGENDA

  (Mr. WYNN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, today Democrats want to improve education in 
America. We want to do it because education is the key to our 
democracy. We want to do it, more importantly, because education is the 
key to our children's future.
  In the first instance, Democrats believe we need national standards. 
The fact is that algebra is the same whether a student is from Maine, 
Missouri or whether they are from my State of Maryland. We need to be 
able to measure whether our students can master algebra and other 
subjects so they can compete against their foreign counterparts. We 
need national standards.
  Second, we need school construction funds. We hear the Republicans 
jump up and say, oh, schools are a local issue. Yes, Mr. Speaker, they 
are a local issue. But the fact again is that local communities need 
help. We have crumbling schools. Almost a third of our schools need 
repairs. They need to fix broken windows and leaking roofs. We have 
overcrowded schools all over America.
  Mr. Speaker, we here in Congress have a duty and responsibility to 
help local communities. Families play the most critical role, but 
families cannot build schools alone. Families cannot repair roofs 
alone. We need a national education agenda that the Democrats are 
pushing.

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