[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 112 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           INTRODUCTION OF THE ``TEACHERS FOR TOMORROW'' ACT

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                            HON. JAY INSLEE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2001

  Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, today I proudly introduce the Teachers for 
Tomorrow Act of 2001, a bill to address the serious teacher shortage in 
our nation's schools. We have over 53 million students in America's 
elementary and secondary schools--a new enrollment record. 
Unfortunately, we lack the most important part of the equation--
teachers! Nationwide, we will need an additional 2 million teachers 
over the next ten years. There are particular shortages in specific 
subject areas such as math, science, bilingual education and special 
education. For the first time in my district in Washington State, 
teaching positions have remained vacant.
  We cannot afford to allow the current trend to continue where our 
best and brightest students ignore the teaching profession or leave it 
altogether. A million teachers are expected to retire over the next ten 
years, and they are leaving the classroom faster than new teachers are 
graduating from college. Even more troublesome is the fact that only 
half of new teachers in urban public schools are still teaching after 
five years. These are serious warning signs of a teacher shortage and 
an upcoming crisis if we do not act to recruit and retain teachers.
  We must do more to empower new college graduates to choose education 
as a career. My legislation would permit every public elementary and 
secondary school teacher to apply for 100% federal loan forgiveness. 
Current law only applies to teachers that teach specific subject areas 
or in low-income schools. For teachers of disabled students, specific 
subject areas, or in low-income schools, my bill would guarantee loan 
forgiveness over three years. All other teachers would be eligible for 
loan forgiveness over five years.
  Loan forgiveness would be granted for continuing education loans, in 
order for teachers to pursue advanced degrees. Moreover, rather than 
allowing these financial incentives to unfairly push teachers into a 
higher tax bracket, any loan forgiveness would be granted tax neutral 
status.
  Finally, our teachers deserve to use the benefit of their experience 
and be able to guide their classrooms and schools with local control. 
My bill maintains the ability of local schools to make hiring, firing 
and other decisions as they see fit.
  Our teachers deserve our highest accolades for educating our nation's 
children. We ought to thank them for the meaningful work they do every 
day. I hope that by forgiving federal loans, this legislation will draw 
more successful students into the teaching profession, and help to 
retain their experience.
  I submit to my colleagues a plan to recruit and retain qualified 
teachers. We cannot shirk our duty to provide a high quality education 
to every child. I urge my colleagues to meet this challenge and support 
this legislation.

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