[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 65 (Wednesday, May 20, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S5190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--VETO MESSAGE ON S. 1502

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we have cleared this with all concerned 
parties, including the Democratic leadership.
  I ask unanimous consent that the veto message to accompany S. 1502 be 
considered as read, printed in the Record, and spread in full upon the 
Journal, and further, that it be set aside to be called up by the 
majority leader after consultation with the Democratic leader.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The message of the President is as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  I am returning herewith without my approval S. 1502, the ``District 
of Columbia Student Opportunity Scholarship Act of 1998.''
  If we are to prepare our children for the 21st Century by providing 
them with the best education in the world, we must strengthen our 
public schools, not abandon them. My agenda for accomplishing this 
includes raising academic standards; strengthening accountability; 
providing more public school choice, including public charter schools; 
and providing additional help to students who need it through tutors, 
mentors, and after-school programs. My education agenda also calls for 
reducing class size, modernizing our schools and linking them to the 
Internet, making our schools safe by removing guns and drugs, and 
instilling greater discipline.
  This bill would create a program of federally funded vouchers that 
would divert critical Federal resources to private schools instead of 
investing in fundamental improvements in public schools. The voucher 
program established by S. 1502 would pay for a few selected students to 
attend private schools, with little or no public accountability for how 
those funds are used, and would draw resources and attention away from 
the essential work of reforming the public schools that serve the 
overwhelming majority of the District's students. In short, S. 1502 
would do nothing to improve public education in the District of 
Columbia. The bill won't hire one new teacher, purchase one more 
computer, or open one after-school program.
  Although I appreciate the interest of the Congress in the educational 
needs of the children in our Nation's Capital, this bill is 
fundamentally misguided and a disservice to those children.
  The way to improve education for all our children is to increase 
standards, accountability, and choice within the public schools. I urge 
the Congress to send me legislation I have proposed to reduce class 
size, modernize our schools, end social promotions, raise academic 
standards for all students, and hold school systems, schools, and staff 
accountable for results.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, May 20, 1998.

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