[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 11, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H5179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE FULLY FUND THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT

  (Mr. ETHERIDGE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon the President held a 
Rose Garden ceremony to celebrate the No Child Left Behind Act. I voted 
for that legislation and I wish I could have joined in the celebration, 
but unfortunately because the administration refuses to fund the new 
law, I spent my afternoon answering questions from unhappy local 
leaders in my district who wanted to know where the money is going to 
come from to pay for the President's education reforms. Despite 
yesterday's White House photo op, the fact remains that the 
administration is cutting $20 billion from No Child Left Behind. Local 
leaders know that they will get stuck with the bill for these 
educational cuts.
  Make no mistake, the Bush educational cuts will result in worse 
schools, cuts in local services like law enforcement and fire and 
rescue or higher property taxes, or all of the above. There has got to 
be a better way.
  Last week I introduced H.R. 2366, the Fully Fund the No Child Left 
Behind Act. My bill simply requires the Federal Government to fund No 
Child Left Behind. Mr. Speaker, it is only fair. I urge my colleagues 
to join us in this legislation.

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