[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 9, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

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                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 9, 1998

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, today President Clinton visited my home 
state of Florida to promote the Administration's education initiatives 
as education policy moves into the 21st Century. While we have made 
significant progress in recent years, there is a lot of work yet to be 
done. I rise today to wholeheartedly support the strengthening of 
public education through these initiatives. In order to meet the high 
education standards that we are setting for our children today, we need 
to provide public schools with the tools for preparing our children for 
the challenges of the next millennium.
  Class sizes must be reduced, new teachers must be hired, and new 
schools must be built. Schools must also be made safer and, therefore, 
more conducive to learning. I believe that the expansion of charter 
school programs is a positive trend which will benefit children 
throughout the United States. Lastly, federal tax credits will be a 
crucial to support the renovation and modernization of our schools, 
many of which have become plagued by structural and age-related 
problems.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Administration's 
program for public education. In so doing, Congress will fulfill its 
commitment to America's future.

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