[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H10673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECORD OF THE 105TH CONGRESS

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, in communities all over America, we are 
trying to support public education, involve parents, improve the 
quality of education, support professional educators. This Congress has 
not done its share. Indeed, when this Congress goes home, if we let it 
go without supporting public education and the Members of Congress wave 
bye-bye out at the airport, they will be recognizing about the only 
accomplishment of this Congress, which is the renaming of the airport 
here in Washington.
  The reason nothing has been done is that the priorities greatly 
differ between Democrats and Republicans. Republicans want to abolish 
the Department of Education. Republicans want to take money away from 
public schools and give those monies, those public monies to elite 
academies.
  We believe the time is now to stand for this Congress doing something 
positively to support local communities who want to improve the quality 
of public education. That is what this budget battle is all about. Let 
us stand firmly for public schools and stand firmly against a do-
nothing Congress that has nothing at this point to point to as an 
accomplishment.

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