[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 20, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H5848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IMPROVE SCHOOLS BY EMPOWERING TEACHERS

  (Mr. ROYCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, a strong education system is one of the 
pillars of a strong America. Our youth deserve the opportunity to reach 
their fullest potential, and it is our responsibility to provide the 
necessary resources.
  But before we challenge our students to be the best they can, we must 
first challenge our educators to be the best they can. As long as some 
classrooms continue to be staffed by ineffective teachers who do little 
more than satisfy a ratio, some students will suffer.
  That is why I support the Teacher Empowerment Act that will be up 
today. This bill gives more flexibility in the use of Federal funds, 
allowing teachers to choose the training programs that best suit their 
classrooms needs without sacrificing accountability.
  This bill also includes funding for new teachers, but the focus is on 
quality over quantity.
  I urge my colleagues to empower our educators for a brighter future 
and to vote for passage of the Teacher Empowerment Act today.

                          ____________________