[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H10671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                               EDUCATION

  (Mr. HINCHEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, as we are about to close this 105th 
Congress, there is one critically important job that remains yet to be 
done. Even though there are literally only hours left in this Congress, 
we have enough time to do it. That is to upgrade and improve the 
quality of our educational system.
  Unfortunately, the Members who run this House are trying to escape 
from town without fulfilling that obligation. The President has 
presented us with a plan to reduce class sizes, to upgrade and 
modernize our facilities, and also to educate new teachers, all of 
which is critically important to the economy of America in the 21st 
century.
  We have the responsibility and the opportunity to act before we leave 
town. We know that kids learn better in class sizes that are smaller. 
If have 35 kids in the class, not much learning goes on. If you have 18 
children in that class, a lot of learning goes on. And that learning is 
going to be important to those children, to their families, to their 
communities and the country as we move into the 21st century. Let us be 
straight with the American people. Let us move forward with this 
education agenda. Let us get this job done before we leave this 
Congress.

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