[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 147 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10923-H10924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  BLOCKING DOLLARS FOR THE CLASSROOMS

  (Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, the Republicans are standing in the 
schoolhouse door and they refuse to allow Federal dollars to build 
classrooms or to modernize and renovate classrooms. The Republicans are 
blocking dollars for the classrooms. They have a bill called

[[Page H10924]]

``dollars for the classrooms,'' which is really dollars to the 
governors and state bureaucracies to play around with Federal money.
  But when it comes to straight bulleting of money for construction, 
which most school boards in America realize is one of their greatest 
needs. They understand that they need help; they cannot get local or 
state dollars. Why not bring home our Federal dollars? All taxes are 
local. They come from the local level. They just print money here. They 
do not really have taxes based in Washington. It comes from the local 
level. Give it back to the local level, without strings attached.
  This is the best deal ever for local school boards and states. It 
says you can have the money. You can float the bonds, and the Federal 
Government will pay the interest on the debt you accumulate to build 
classrooms. What better deal is there; or has ever been offered? The 
Republicans are blocking dollars to build classrooms in America.

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