[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 122 (Wednesday, October 4, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY; RESULTS NOT PROCESS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 3, 2000

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good 
friend and colleague, Bill Goodling.
  When I think of Bill Goodling, the words ``quality'' and 
``integrity'' come to mind. Bill Goodling is an example of the very 
finest this institution has to offer. His practical experience as a 
high school teacher, principal, and superintendent has given him the 
ability to legislate with authority on education issues. Many times I 
have looked to his leadership on education and deferred to his ``hands-
on'' knowledge of preparing children for the best possible future.
  Bill's philosophy of education is based on the premise that many of 
us believe in--ensuring that parents and local education agencies make 
decisions regarding a child's education, not the federal government. As 
Chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee, he has 
challenged the federal education paradigm by insisting that the 
education of children is not determined by federal bureaucrats.
  For his entire tenure in the House of Representatives, Bill Goodling 
has encouraged all of us to keep the federal government's commitment to 
special education, and funding for the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act (IDEA) has more than doubled during his term as Chairman 
of the Education Committee. IDEA will miss a great ally when he retires 
from the House.
  Under his leadership, the focus on education has shifted from the 
quantity of programs and services provided by the federal government to 
the quality of those programs. Head Start, for example, has been 
enhanced to ensure that children are taught by qualified teachers and 
held accountable for meeting specific performance measures. Ed-Flex has 
also been expanded to allow all 50 states flexibility in administering 
education programs in return for meeting measurable performance 
standards.
  Bill's contributions to Congress are not solely limited to education, 
however. As a member of the Committee on International Relations, he 
has impacted the development of U.S. foreign policy by insisting that 
U.S. national security interests are the utmost priority. His position 
on that Committee has also allowed him the opportunity to champion 
human rights and child survival efforts abroad.
  Like many of my colleagues, I am saddened to see him leave this body. 
I will certainly miss his practical, ``hands-on'' expertise when 
looking for leadership on education issues. But I congratulate you, 
Bill, on a job well done. I wish you and Hilda all the best for your 
life to come.

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