[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 24 (Thursday, March 7, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1658-S1659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PACKAGE

  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I rise today to express my support for 
the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act, which passed the House 
earlier today by an overwhelming vote. I am so pleased that it appears 
we are on the verge of finally passing a very balanced, reasonable, and 
bipartisan bill to keep our economy on the road to recovery.
  It has been a long struggle, back and forth, between the House and 
the Senate and between the two parties, and now it is great to see us 
all coming together on a consensus bill.

[[Page S1659]]

  I thank the House leadership, and in particular Chairman Bill Thomas 
for all the work he has done in putting together this excellent 
legislation.
  I am particularly pleased that the bill includes two provisions about 
which I care a great deal.
  The first is the extension of unemployment compensation for displaced 
workers for an additional 13 weeks. Last October, I introduced the 
first bipartisan bill to extend unemployment benefits for workers who 
had exhausted their regular State benefits and yet still have been 
unable to find new work or to be rehired because of the weak economy. 
These workers need our help.
  We know that in January alone some 370,000 unemployed workers 
exhausted their benefits, up 63 percent from the year before. The 
situation is similar in Maine. We experienced a large increase in the 
number of unemployed workers who have been unable to find new work and 
have exhausted their normal 26 weeks of State unemployment benefits.

  This extension could help some 3 million unemployed workers, many of 
whom lost their jobs either as a direct or indirect result of September 
11 or have been affected by the recession that our country just now 
seems to be on the verge of pulling out of.
  I know the Presiding Officer has been very concerned about the large 
number of unemployed Americans living in her State which has 
experienced one of the higher jumps in unemployment insurance. I know 
this is a provision she has been a strong advocate for as well.
  The second provision on which I want to comment tonight is one that 
is very near and dear to me. It is a provision I have worked on for the 
past 3 years, originally with Senators Coverdell and Kyl, and more 
recently with Senators Warner and Landrieu.
  Just Tuesday, President Bush spoke about the need to support our 
elementary and secondary education teachers, to help them bring out the 
best in their students, our children. Now we are close to passing 
another milestone in our journey toward the goal of supporting our 
teachers.
  The provision to which I am referring is known as the teacher tax 
provision. It is a provision that has been included in the economic 
recovery package that would establish an above-the-line deduction of up 
to $250 to compensate teachers for a small part of what they invest in 
our children.
  This tax deduction would be available to teachers who dip deep into 
their own pocket in order to buy supplies, materials, or books for 
their classrooms. This above-the-line deduction would be available for 
teachers, teacher's aides, principals, and counselors to help reimburse 
them in just a small way for the books, supplies, and equipment they 
purchase for their students.
  I notice the Senator from Iowa is in the Chamber. He has been very 
helpful with this provision as well. I thank him, too.
  Just last year, we passed landmark legislation reauthorizing the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act. A principal goal of this bill 
is to promote teacher excellence. We know that other than involved 
parents, the most important predictor of a student's success is a 
quality teacher.
  I have visited close to 100 schools in the State of Maine, and I have 
seen firsthand how dedicated our teachers are. They deserve our 
support. This is a way we can recognize the selfless efforts of our 
teachers and the financial sacrifices they make in entering the field 
of teaching and also in making purchases to improve the classrooms 
where they teach.
  According to a study by the National Education Association, the 
average classroom teacher spends more than $400 a year out of his or 
her own pocket in order to buy supplies or materials or books for the 
classroom. This sacrifice is typical of the dedication of America's 
teachers to their students.

  So often teachers in Maine and throughout the country spend their own 
money to better the classroom experiences of their students. Let me 
cite an example. I have spoken to dozens of teachers who have told me 
about their efforts to improve the quality of their teaching by giving 
their students access to supplies and other materials they would not 
otherwise have.
  One example is Idella Harter. She is president of the Maine Education 
Association. One year, Idella saved all of her receipts from the 
purchases of classroom materials. She started adding up the receipts 
and was startled to discover she had spent over $1,000 of her own money 
to enrich the educational experience of her students. She told me she 
decided after she got to $1,000, she had better stop counting.
  The relief our Tax Code now provides to our teachers is simply not 
sufficient because most teachers do not itemize so they do not get the 
benefit of the tax deduction for the supplies for their classroom. By 
changing the system so that we now have an above-the-line tax 
deduction, we will help many more teachers. By allowing them to take an 
above-the-line deduction for classroom expenses, this provision takes a 
fair, progressive approach that will provide just a bit of thanks and a 
little bit of incentive and financial relief to our schoolteachers. It 
will also encourage additional spending on classroom supplies.
  The teacher tax provision of the Job Creation and Worker Assistance 
Act helps teachers to go that extra mile for their students. We have 
all seen them. We know how dedicated they are. We know the difference 
they have made in our own lives. As President Bush has eloquently 
noted, teachers sometimes lead with their hearts and pay with their 
wallets. This provision would reimburse educators for a small part of 
what they invest in our children's future.
  I hope we will clear this bill very shortly and pass it either 
tonight or first thing tomorrow morning. I hope all of my colleagues 
will join in a strong vote for this important legislation.
  I thank the Presiding Officer for allowing me to comment on these two 
important provisions. I am delighted to see two of my top legislative 
priorities on the verge of being signed into law.
  I yield the floor.

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