[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H10677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1100
       REPUBLICANS SENDING A MIXED MESSAGE TO AMERICA'S CHILDREN

  (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend President Clinton for his 
strong commitment to the education of America's children. This issue 
has been central to his public service, and it is central to the lives 
of America's children.
  It is important for our children to receive a clear message from us, 
and I am afraid that our Republican colleagues are sending a mixed 
message to America's children. Children are smart. When we tell them 
that education is important for their own self fulfillment, for the 
competitiveness of our country, indeed for our national defense, they 
get one message. They get another message when we say it is important, 
but we are going to send you to a school that is crumbling, leaking, 
not equipped with the wiring for modernization, and we are not going to 
support, the Republicans are not going to support, school construction 
so that they can be in smaller classes.
  Smaller classes net more teachers. That is why President Clinton's 
proposal for 100,000 new teachers is so important. It is not for 
administrative cost, and it is not about local control. It is about 
saying to local governments this money is for teachers, it is not for 
administration.
  Stop insulting the intelligence of America's children. Support 
President Clinton's school construction plan and 100,000 new teachers.

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