[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 146 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     WAIVING REQUIREMENT OF CLAUSE 4(b) OF RULE XI WITH RESPECT TO 
 CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON RULES

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                               speech of

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, October 10, 1998

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the martial 
law resolution, H. Res. 589. This measure waves the one-day layover 
requirement, guaranteed by House rules, and allows any appropriations 
bill, appropriations conference report or continuing resolution to be 
brought to the floor for a vote--today and for the remainder of the 
105th Congress. This is yet another attempt by the Republican majority 
to prevent critical Democratic proposals from being brought to the 
floor for consideration.
  In spite of the fact that the fiscal year is over, the Republican 
Congress has failed to complete the regular business of the House, 
including: Passing a budget resolution and concluding action on several 
appropriations bills.
  Rather than legislating, House Republicans have focused their efforts 
on investigating. In fact, over the last four years, House Republicans 
have spent more than $17 million on more than 50 politically-motivated 
investigations in the House. They have shown very little interest in 
creating positive legislative accomplishments that would benefit our 
Nation's working families. And, they have wasted valuable time on 
promoting excessively partisan issues.
  Earlier this year, congressional Democrats joined the administration 
in introducing a comprehensive education proposal--which includes 
school modernization and class size reduction initiatives. These 
efforts are critical to ensuring that students across the United States 
are prepared for the twenty-first century. However, House Republicans 
have continuously blocked this legislation from being considered on the 
floor. Instead, they have supported anti-public school initiatives such 
as school vouchers and budget cuts in essential education funding.
  Mr. Speaker, recent polls indicate that the American voters are 
primarily concerned with improving public education in this country. 
However, the Republican 105th Congress has failed to act on legislation 
that would help to improve our Nation's public schools. School 
modernization and class size reduction legislation is vital to enabling 
local school districts to renovate and modernize their existing 
facilities as well as to build new classrooms that will enable them to 
effectively address rising school enrollments.
  According to the General Accounting Office, our neighborhood schools 
are sorely in need of $112 billion to repair or upgrade dangerous and 
substandard school facilities. In fact, 60 percent of the Nation's 
public schools have at least one major building feature in complete 
disrepair.
  Before the 105th Congress adjourns, we must work to address these and 
other problems associated with critical funding needs for school 
modernization and class size reduction. The Democratic education 
proposal provides Federal tax credits to pay the interest on $22 
billion in bonds for the modernization or construction of more than 
5,000 schools across the country. It also assists local school 
districts in hiring an additional 100,000 qualified teachers and reduce 
class size in grades one through three. At a time when the Nation's 
public schools are experiencing record school enrollment, and many 
teachers in the early grades have classes at large as 36 students, this 
effort is absolutely essential.
  It is for these reasons that I urge my colleagues to join me in 
opposing the martial law resolution. It is time to stop playing games. 
We must get to work and enact legislation that will benefit all of our 
Nation's children and ensure that they have access to quality public 
school education.
  Vote no on H. Res. 589

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