[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 104 (Friday, July 19, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          STUDENT SUCCESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 2013

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5) to 
     support State and local accountability for public education, 
     protect State and local authority, inform parents of the 
     performance of their children's schools, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition of H.R. 5, the so-
called Student Success Act.
  H.R. 5 reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
(ESEA), and it is one that we have waited a long time to revisit. I 
hoped that we could work together on this bill because all of us care 
about our children's growth and development. Both Republicans and 
Democrats share concerns over the rate at which we are falling behind 
other nations. And whether you are liberal or conservative, we know 
that we need to hold our schools accountable for their performance.
  That is why this bill is so distressing. H.R. 5 is as dysfunctional 
as anything else that has come to the floor this Congress. It may not 
be as pointless as the 38th and 39th votes to repeal Obamacare that we 
had Wednesday. And it may not have been rammed down our throats quite 
as aggressively as the Farm Bill was last week. But this bill is still 
a piece of unilateral maneuvering--when we could be working together.
  Instead of spending public funds for the public good, H.R. 5 creates 
a quota system that shifts funds to private schools that are meant to 
go to low-income children and schools. Along the way to privatizing our 
public schools, it decreases accountability for states and school 
districts by block-granting specialized grant programs--allowing funds 
meant to address specific hardships to be diverted elsewhere.
  I will admit to my friends across the aisle, that while I know some 
in your base may buy into that pipedream--it is not the way to rebuild 
America. Formalizing the distinctions between our two Americas is not 
the key to healing our nation. Nor is depriving extra help to students 
with special learning barriers.
  Give our children their future. Give them a bill that will guarantee 
a 21st century school system to lead the world. I urge my colleagues to 
use this opportunity for something greater than mere posturing, and 
oppose this bill.

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