[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H10675]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     INVEST IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM

  (Mr. ROEMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, it has been said that, as education goes, so 
goes America. As education goes, so goes America. We are here in the 
last days of this Congress to try to build on bipartisan support for 
increasing local control, but also having Federal, State, local 
partnerships to address the dire need to invest in our education 
system.
  One area that is so important, as a parent of three children, is to 
make sure that we reduce the class size. Would we rather have our 
teachers teaching 25 children or 18 children? That is a huge 
difference. That is local control, but it is a critically important 
partnership with our Federal local government.
  We also need after-school programs to reduce crime and drugs. We are 
doing that in places like Elkhart, Indiana. But we need more support. 
Let us invest and work in supporting our education system in this 
country

                          ____________________