[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 19, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1, NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2001

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, on December 13, the House passed H.R. 
1, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 Conference Report by an 
overwhelming, bi-partisan majority vote. By doing so, we have deliver 
(on President Bush's promise and commitment to improve the education of 
every child in America!
  It is our President's number one, domestic priority, other than 
Homeland Security.
  In his Inaugural Address, President Bush in speaking about our 
responsibilities and values as citizens said ``Together, we will 
reclaim America's schools, before ignorance and apathy claim more young 
lives.''
  President Bush called upon Congress to achieve that goal by coming up 
with a plan to reform education in new and bold ways.
  Earlier this year, the House responded first by passing the most 
comprehensive education reform package in almost three decades.
  This bill, the No Child Left Behind Act calls for a major increase in 
federal funds for both states and local school districts. The final 
agreement with the House and Senate does just that.
  It sets aside close to $135 billion for education over the next 5 
years alone.
  But more importantly, these dollars will ensure accountability by 
providing the following: unprecedented new flexibility for states and 
school districts in the use of federal education funds, ensures higher 
levels of achievement for students to meet and surpass, sets new 
accountability standards to keep only the most qualified teachers in 
our classroom and provides more choices for parents in determining the 
best education possible for their children.
  These are important reforms that will replace three and a half 
decades of increased education spending that have simply not produced 
the results Americans deserve.
  As President Bush rightly put it, ``dollars alone do not always make 
a difference.''
  Today's victory ensures that no child will be left behind. In fact, 
following the enactment of our reform bill, immediate new options will 
be available to students in thousands of failing public schools across 
the United States.
  A Department of Education analysis finds that students at nearly 
3,000 underachieving public schools nationwide will be eligible for 
immediate, new options to achieve a better education in a more suitable 
learning environment.
  Mr. Speaker, today I urge my colleagues in the other body to pass 
H.R. 1 so that we can get it to President's desk and signed into law 
before the end of the year.
  For years, we have been providing critical funds for the education of 
our children. Now we are taking an extra step to ensure those dollars 
produce results.

                          ____________________