[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




LET US PASS H.R. 7 AND PROVIDE AMERICAN CHILDREN A GOOD BASIC EDUCATION

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, the airplane, the theory of 
relativity, the polio vaccine, Mr. Speaker, all of these discoveries 
occurred during the 20th century, and they have changed our society. 
None of these extraordinary accomplishments would have been possible 
without a basic education.
  Yet, as we begin a new century, American children striving to achieve 
great things already start at a disadvantage. Our Nation's education 
system ranks well below other industrialized nations. In fact, in math 
and science, our 12th graders rank among the lowest in the world.
  In a nation as great as America, there is no excuse for this. 
American children deserve more. That is why I support H.R. 7, 
legislation that allows family to set aside money tax-free for proven 
education improvements such as tutors, computers, and books. Fifty-two 
million families of school-age children, 76 percent of whom attend 
public schools, would benefit from this bill. It is time we prepared 
our children to succeed in the 21st century. Let us pass H.R. 7.

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