[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1783-E1784]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      DOLLARS TO THE CLASSROOM ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 18, 1998

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3248) to 
     provide Dollars to the Classroom.

  Mr. ADAM SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this 
opportunity to explain my support for the Dollars to the Classroom Act. 
As a strong supporter of local control of the public education system 
in our country, I believe a top priority of Congress should be to 
assure Federal funds for education go to the local level where members 
of our community can determine the best use of these funds. In light of 
this view, I support the concepts encompassed in this legislation of 
block granting select education programs and assuring 95 percent of 
Federal funds go to the local level. I will vote for this bill because 
I see it as a step in the right direction.
  The underlying question we must ask in this debate is ``Do we believe 
in local control?'' If we say that our local teachers, administrators, 
and parents should have control over the education of students, we must 
carry though with that ideal and hand over the decision making 
authority for education dollars to these individuals. I fundamentally 
believe in local control because the people in my community who 
dedicate their lives to educating children know better than Members of 
Congress how funds could best serve our students.
  In addition, when I visit schools in my district, teachers and 
administrators tell me they need more funds for education and fewer 
regulatory requirements from the Federal Government. This legislation 
begins to focus on the problem of Federal Government regulations and 
takes step to eliminate the requirements for funding with which 
teachers and administrators must comply. For example, I strongly 
support the expansion of the ED-FLEX program to all 50 States included 
in this bill. This program provides the regulatory flexibility that the 
schools in my area are asking for and I am an advocate of expansion.
  I share the concerns of my Democratic colleagues that historically 
block grants lead to cuts in funding over time. I plan to be vigilant 
in assuring that the Federal Government continues to provide adequate 
education funding.

[[Page E1784]]

As always, this battle will be fought in the appropriations process, 
and I plan to be a leader in assuring education funds are not cut. 
Supporters of education must continue to work within the constraints of 
the budget to assure education is made a top priority.
  While I feel this bill is a small step in the right direction, there 
is still much work to be done to improve our public school system. I 
will support this bill but I feel very strongly that we cannot let the 
changes incorporated in the legislation lead to cuts in education 
funding.

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