[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 149 (Thursday, October 28, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13342-S13343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CLASS SIZE REDUCTION

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, we are nearing the end of the budget 
process, and there were inferences made on the floor yesterday that the 
class size initiative should not be part of the final budget agreement 
because--it has been claimed--the President doesn't have the authority 
to insist that we hire more teachers to reduce class size.
  Mr. President, I have come to the floor today to clarify the 
President's important--and authorized role--in fighting for smaller 
classes. I have also come to the floor to remind my colleagues that 
this year we have smaller class sizes--where discipline has been 
restored and kids can learn the basics--because last year Congress made 
a bipartisan agreement--and a bipartisan commitment--to hire 100,000 
new teachers in order to reduce size in first, second, and third 
grades.
  Today, as the budget process winds down, I want to make sure that our 
agreement is not pushed aside.
  Let me remind my colleagues that the President does have the 
authority in the Constitution to register his opinion on whether or not 
the budget is acceptable. In fact, the President doesn't just have the 
authority, but he has the responsibility under Article I, Section 7 to 
return bills with his objections that he does not approve of. And I'm 
glad the President has that authority and that he will use it if this 
Congress doesn't guarantee class size reductions. And 38 Senators 
signed a letter saying we would stand behind his threatened veto 
because we agree class size reduction is critical.
  Mr. President, in trying to reduce the number of students in each 
classroom, I have followed the process. In March, I was told it wasn't 
the right time. In the subcommittee, I was told we weren't allowed to 
offer amendments. In full committee, I was told it was too 
controversial. Then, when I got the floor, I was told I'd have to wait 
until the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was written. If we 
have to wait until then, we won't be able to tell kids they will have 
small classes next year, and we can't tell teachers they will have 
their jobs next year.
  Mr. President, I have followed the process, and I have waited. But I 
am tired of waiting as I sense that this Congress is trying to undo our 
bipartisan commitment. What am I supposed to tell students, ``Congress 
has to write the ESEA and until then, you have to learn your ABCs in a 
class with 35 students.'' To me, that is not acceptable. I'm not going 
to tell them that. If this Congress feels so strong that guaranteeing 
smaller classes is not important, you can give them your excuses.
  This is about money in the budget that Congress approved last year, 
and it is about us keeping our commitment to improving education by 
reducing class size.
  The class size reduction effort has been a success in its first year. 
Today, we have kids learning in classrooms

[[Page S13343]]

that are less crowded--learning to read, learning to write, and 
learning the basics with fewer discipline problems. They are working 
with a trained professional. Research shows they are going to have 
higher graduation rates, higher grade point averages and a higher 
likelihood of pursuing higher education.
  They are going to be successful because of the work this Congress did 
one year ago. And the President has a right to insist on it. We as 
Democrats have a right to insist on it, and--as a Senator in this 
body--I am here to insist on it.
  Now is the time to keep our commitment. Now is when the decisions are 
being made. Now is when we have to stand up for smaller classes. If we 
have to wait until after all budget deals have been cut, until after 
all the money has been spent, we will have failed those teachers, we 
will have failed those parents, but most importantly, we will have 
failed those children.
  Mr. President, it is a national priority to reduce class size so kids 
can learn the basics and so discipline can be restored in the 
classroom. It is a promise we made last year and we need to put the 
money behind it, wherever it is appropriate.
  A few weeks ago, I met with a teacher in Tacoma, WA, named Kris 
Paynter. Last year, there were 30 kids in her first grade class. This 
year there are 13 because of this program. That makes a huge difference 
for those kids. I saw a disciplined classroom where kids could learn 
the basics. Next year, we don't know how many kids will be in Ms. 
Paynter's class. And we can't even guarantee those 29,000 teachers 
hired last year will keep their jobs.
  Mr. President, putting all of these process questions aside, what 
really matters at the end of the day is that kids have smaller classes. 
The teachers and parents in this country care that we do it. Period.
  The millions of children who are now in smaller classes aren't 
wondering ``has this been authorized?'' or ``is this in the budget?'' 
or ``does the President have the constitutional authority to reduce 
class sizes?'' What really matters is that we fulfill our promise to 
parents, teachers, and students that we made last year in a bipartisan 
process.
  Mr. President, I hate to say it, but at every turn, this Congress has 
put special interests ahead of the interests of real families. This is 
the last opportunity we will have to do something significant for kids. 
We didn't address the loopholes that still allow kids and criminals to 
get their hands on guns. We didn't make schools safer after the 
Columbine tragedy. We didn't provide health insurance to more kids. 
This is the last chance we have in this Congress to do something for 
out kids, fix a problem we know exists. And I am here to say that we 
cannot let this chance pass.
  We need to keep our commitment to reducing class size. We need to be 
able to tell those teachers they will have jobs next year, and we need 
to be able to tell those kids they will have small classes next year. 
Let's stand behind our commitment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wisconsin is recognized.

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