[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 93 (Tuesday, July 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     LABOR/HHS APPROPRIATIONS BILL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 14, 1998

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my strong support 
of the FY99 Labor/HHS Appropriations bill, which is being marked up by 
the full Appropriations Committee this afternoon.
  While this year's legislation saves taxpayers nearly $2.6 billion, 
Chairman Porter and his subcommittee have ensured that this Congress 
remains committed to the health of every American family. I am very 
pleased to note that this year's legislation contains almost $100 
million more than President Clinton requested for the National 
Institutes of Health. We simply can't retreat in the fight against 
disease and sickness and this bill continues our commitment to vital 
research.
  I am also pleased with the subcommittee's continued commitment to 
education in America. The subcommittee took a major step toward 
loosening the government restrictions that hamper local efforts at 
improving our children's education. I strongly support the 
subcommittee's recommendation to reduce GOALS 2000 funding by one-half. 
The GOALS 2000 program required states to develop complex student 
performance standards while subverting the ability of local school 
boards and families to decide what's best for their children. These 
``standards'' measure only the cash, number of employees, and programs 
in the schools, while ignoring the results in terms of what our 
children learn. The federal bureaucracy's role in education has 
expanded over the years, but little has been done to foster the real 
reform that our children need.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Porter for his continued hard 
work and dedication as Chairman of this important subcommittee. I 
support his legislation and I look forward to its full consideration in 
the House.

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