[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]




                               EDUCATION

  (Mr. RODRIGUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, as we face the 21st century, our 
education is our best national defense. Education must function as a 
means to prepare our children for the 21st century and the global 
economy. To help meet this goal, we must aim to strengthen our public 
schools that serve the majority of our children. Reducing class size 
should be our first priority. Putting those teachers in the classroom 
should be our first priority. This will allow teachers to focus on 
basics such as reading and writing in the early ages. We also need to 
look to modernize our classrooms. Across this country, we need to 
assure that our classrooms are well-equipped to meet the technology of 
the 21st century. We have to assure that our youngsters will have a 
fresh start to be able to compete in the global economy. Our schools 
are crumbling across this country. We need to invest in our children 
and in the future of this country as our national defense depends on 
it. Our level of education will determine our national defense. Let us 
also focus on providing our children the assistance that they need.

                          ____________________