[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 73 (Thursday, May 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E936-E937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            INTRODUCTION OF THE ACT TO LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2001

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to submit 
to my colleagues in the House the Act to Leave No Child Behind. Today I 
am joined by the gentlewoman from Connecticut, Ms. DeLauro, and the 
Gentleman from California, Mr. Stark, in announcing its introduction.
  An Act to Leave No Child Behind has ambitious but achievable goals: 
to eliminate child poverty, end child hunger, prepare children to enter 
school ready to learn, and provide children with health insurance and 
other vital services necessary for the successful development of 
America's children. Our bill is a road map for the safe and healthy 
development of America's children.
  America must make a choice when it comes to the future of our 
neediest children. We must choose whether we will invest in the healthy 
development of our children or in the richest one percent of taxpayers 
in this country. We cannot do both. This bill represents a vision and a 
commitment toward a future where all children have a chance to succeed.
  An Act to Leave No Child Behind, combines several pieces of 
legislation that could be acted upon separately at the appropriate 
time. Taken together, however, this bill moves us forward on the path 
where all children have quality health care, educational opportunity, 
quality child care and safe communities. This legislation provides 
every child and their parents with health insurance, lifts every child 
from poverty through tax credits, work supports, and a new minimum 
wage, and ends child hunger through the expansion of food programs. 
This bill makes sure every child is ready for school by fully funding 
quality early learning programs, and offers significant reforms for our 
system of public education that increases accountability, reduces 
classroom size, and guarantees that all children will be taught by 
qualified teachers in modem and safe classrooms. This legislation also 
addresses the issue of affordable housing and safe communities through 
sensible environmental protections, gun safety laws, and programs to 
reduce children's exposure to neglect, abuse, and violence.
  I am so proud to have working with me on this legislation, my friend 
Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and the Children's Defense Fund. 
Despite President Bush's use of the term, it was in fact the Children's 
Defense Fund that trademarked the phrase ``Leave No Child Behind'' in 
1994. And it has been justified in using it ever since as it has waged 
a relentless battle to knock America's political establishment to its 
senses on behalf of our neediest children. This bill is the real deal--
it is the real Act to Leave No Child Behind. It addresses the most 
important issue facing our country--the children who have been and 
continue to be left behind. We understand that our bill is asking for a 
significant commitment in federal resources to help children. But we 
think that is the right direction for us to take. We also strongly 
believe that we have the resources for this effort. And, perhaps most 
important, we understand that the continued neglect of the real needs 
of children has come

[[Page E937]]

at a great price and will continue to cost our society--and these 
children--dearly.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members of the House to join me and co-sponsor 
the Act to Leave No Child Behind.

                          ____________________