[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 76 (Tuesday, June 5, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S5808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             SENATE AGENDA

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I want to talk about the direction the 
Senate has been taking. Certainly, we have many things to do. We have 
moved through a number of important issues --the budget and meaningful 
tax relief. We now move to education and energy.
  I have to respond to the comments of the Senator from Illinois on 
energy and suggest this energy crisis did not just happen in the last 5 
months. It is interesting to note that for the past 8 years we have not 
had an energy policy. We have let ourselves get into a position where 
we are totally dependent on OPEC and foreign production, and it has put 
us in this position.
  It is also interesting to note that it may not always be a shortage 
of oil but that refining may have something to do with it. We have not 
built any new refineries over the last number of years, and the idea of 
accusing someone of causing the problem--we need to take a look at it.
  We have many things to do, there is no question, but we need to deal 
with domestic production and we need to deal with the transportation of 
energy. We in Wyoming could produce energy for California if we had a 
way to get it there. We need refineries to refine gasoline. We need to 
get away from having to develop 15 types of gasoline. It is easy to get 
away from the facts and get off into blaming somebody for this 
behavior.
  The Senate needs to move on to education. It has been on this issue 
for quite a long time. It has not moved. We have had a certain amount 
of obstruction. When there are still 300 amendments, it is a little 
hard to talk about wanting to move forward, but perhaps we will be able 
to do that.
  I hope when we do, we take a long look at where we want to be in 
education. Too often, we get so involved with little issues that are 
either political or they have to do with one minute thing. The fact is, 
we do not have a clear vision of what the role of the Federal 
Government is in education, and we need to define that role.
  In elementary and secondary education, the Federal Government 
provides about 7 percent of the funding. Why should they also provide 
all the rules and regulations that go with it? That has been the 
position many have taken: If we are going to give them any money, then 
we have to tell them how to do it.
  One of the arguments, of course, is how do we help support education, 
have a policy on education, but allow the differences that exist in the 
local education facilities.
  What is needed in Chugwater, WY, is different from what is needed in 
Pittsburgh, PA. We have to allow flexibility for local school boards 
and States.
  I hope to take a look at where we want to be and have a vision of 
where we are going. Of course, we want high-quality education. We want 
accountability for education. We have to have quality teachers. We need 
to have choices for families, whether it is charter schools or schools 
of choice as we have in my hometown. The public schools have a 
different approach to it. Parents can decide where they want to send 
their children. These are the items about which we have to have a 
vision instead of coming out every day and wrestling over something 
that has very little impact. Where do we want to be 10 years from now 
or 15 years from now with regard to education.
  Our hope as we change leadership--and that is not the end of the 
world--is that we move to govern and we move to do the things for the 
American people that we want to see happen over time: Where do we want 
to be and what is our role in getting there, that we can measure; high 
standards; we have to have funding that works; increased flexibility 
for local control; provide options for students. Those ought to be our 
goals. We should state how we will get there.
  I yield the floor.

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