[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 22, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRESS SHOULD NOT GIVE UP ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, just two weeks ago Speaker Gingrich forced 
this House to pass a publicly-financed private school voucher program 
in the D.C. appropriations bill. This provision initially failed to 
pass the House, but the Speaker held the vote open and basically 
twisted his fellow Republicans' arms to change their vote.
  In spite of this near failure, Speaker Gingrich will take another 
step at cutting public education. He will bring to the floor this week 
another bill to pour taxpayer dollars into private and religious 
schools. It is called an education savings account, but would primarily 
benefit wealthy families.
  Democrats have an alternative that would use the money for school 
construction bonds to help public schools that are in disrepair or in 
need of new construction.
  Mr. Speaker, let us improve public education rather than siphon 
Federal dollars for private schools. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues: 
Do not give up on the public schools.

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