[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 34 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H963-H964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              QUALITY SCHOOLS SHOULD BE A BIPARTISAN GOAL

  (Ms. BERKLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to talk a little bit about the 
district that I represent. I represent southern Nevada, which is the 
fastest growing district in the United States. I have 5,000 new 
residents pouring into southern Nevada every month.
  We have the fastest growing school-age population in the United 
States. We need to have school construction in order to keep up with 
the unprecedented growth. We have 1,200 students for every school in 
southern Nevada.

[[Page H964]]

 That is twice the national average. We have 210,000 people in our 
school district. These students are being educated in trailers, they 
are being educated in portables.
  I say, Mr. Speaker, that this is not an appropriate place for our 
students in America to be educated. They are crying out for better 
educational opportunities.
  I believe education is a nonpartisan issue and should be approached 
in that manner. Our goal should be to prepare our students for the next 
millennium, for the great challenges that lie ahead in our global 
economy. I ask the people on the other side of the aisle to join with 
us in order to do what is right for our American students.

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