[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 74 (Friday, May 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 23, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1) to close 
     the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility, and 
     choice, so that no child is left behind:

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to commend my colleagues on the 
Education and the Workforce Committee for crafting a bill that contains 
landmark investments in education and prioritizes disadvantaged 
children and low-performing schools.
  In total, H.R. 1 authorizes $22.8 billion, about $5'billion more than 
was appropriated in fiscal year 2001. This bill creates new 
accountability systems that hold our schools responsible for delivering 
the first-rate education that our children deserve. It tackles the 
problem of illiteracy by creating two new reading programs and 
authorizing them at three times the level of past programs. H.R 1 gives 
children more personal attention and improves teacher quality by almost 
doubling funding for class size reduction and professional development 
for teachers. It authorizes $11.5 billion for Title I in 2002 with 
increases over five years that amount to almost twice the 2001 level. 
Finally, H.R. 1 rejects both vouchers, which would drain resources from 
public schools, and ``Straight As,'' which would politicize education 
and deny critical funding to the students who need the money most.
  In sum, H.R. 1 is a remarkable measure. My only fear is that the 
budget we were forced to vote on last week so binds our hands that we 
will not be able to keep our promises. By enacting a $1.35 trillion tax 
cut and a four percent cap on discretionary spending increases, we have 
virtually guaranteed that we will not adequately fund all the programs 
we are about to authorize. Mr. Speaker, reforms without resources will 
not produce results.
  I ask my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1. However, we must all 
remember that our job is not over until we meet these obligations 
during the appropriations process.

                          ____________________