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




  THE EXPANSION OF ED-FLEX PERMITS DELEGATION OF GREATER AUTHORITY IN 
                   EDUCATION TO STATES AND LOCALITIES

  (Mr. LUCAS of Kentucky asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LUCAS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, as the former chairman of the 
Northern Kentucky University Board of Regents, I believe that all too 
often education decisions are made at the Federal level by bureaucrats 
who have little knowledge of the needs of the school at the local 
level, leaving teachers, principals, and local school boards with their 
hands tied.
  That is why I support the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 
1999. The expansion of Ed-Flex allows the Secretary of Education to 
delegate to States the authority to waive Federal regulation 
requirements that interfere with the schools' ability to educate our 
children.
  The proposed legislation makes many programs eligible for waivers. 
The bill will help do away with many burdensome Federal regulations, 
giving more decision-making power to the local level. Our schools must 
have the flexibility to tailor specific solutions to specific problems. 
Local school boards understand local needs best.

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