[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

  (Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, our public schools are under attack. 
Across the country there are students trying to learn in conditions 
that we should be ashamed of: crumbling walls, leaky roofs, and 
overcrowding.
  The Republicans' response to this crisis is amazing. They want to 
take money out of the public school system and give it to private 
schools.
  A recent poll shows that the vast majority of Americans oppose 
Republicans' attempt to use tax dollars for private schools. The 
American people want to be able to provide all our children with a 
first class public education, but the Republicans do not. They want to 
allow public schools to continue to deteriorate while using taxpayers' 
dollars to subsidize private schools.
  Mr. Speaker, we must not allow the Republicans to tear down our 
public school system. We must continue our commitment to providing 
every child in this country with a quality education.

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