[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 144 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    UNITE BEHIND PUBLIC EDUCATION, REJECT PRIVATE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Madam Speaker, well, as we know in Texas, you do not 
help our public schools by siphoning off the money and giving it to 
private elite academies, and that is what this so-called Private School 
Expense Act that we are about to debate is all about.
  It is at the expense of public education that we help the private 
elite academies that serve a small percentage of the wealthiest among 
us. I think it is wrong. I represent communities in the capital of 
Texas, the central Texas area, that will next month receive more blue 
ribbon school awards for quality public education than any other area 
our size.
  Our business community supports our public schools through a massive 
adopt-a-school program of time and resources. But today's Private 
School Expense Act goes in just the opposite direction. If we want to 
support those efforts, those local community efforts for strong public 
schools, we do not take Federal resources and divert them and provide 
an incentive for the wealthy to leave public education.
  Let us unite behind public education and reject this private 
incentive program.

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