[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 149 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SCHOOL VOUCHERS OFFER ILLUSORY PROMISE

  (Mr. PRICE of North Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, our Republican friends 
would have us believe that school vouchers would level the playing 
field by providing low-income parents the same choice as wealthy 
parents to send their children to private and religious schools. 
Unfortunately, that is an illusory promise.
  For one thing, the Republican proposals would provide vouchers to 
only a small proportion of low and moderate income families.
  Second, the Republican plans would cover only a fraction of the fees 
that most private schools charge. Most working families would be unable 
to make up the difference, making the vouchers useless to them, 
providing the greatest benefit for the wealthy families who can already 
afford the cost of tuition.
  Mr. Speaker, when we consider what these funds could do if applied to 
the improvement of public education for all of our children, raising 
standards, developing magnet schools, putting computers in every 
classroom, our choice is clear. The Republican voucher plan promises 
what it cannot deliver, and it would divert us from the challenge of 
making public education all that it can and must be.

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