[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 104 (Friday, July 19, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          STUDENT SUCCESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    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:

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, funding for education 
and STEM education is an investment in our future, and perhaps one of 
the most important investments we make as a Nation. I am very concerned 
that H.R. 5 guts education funding by 1.3 billion dollars in order to 
lock in the sequester preventing Congress from being able to 
appropriate above sequester levels. According to an analysis carried 
out by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, the United 
States ranks second to last of the 44 countries and regions analyzed in 
terms of progress in innovation-based competitiveness over the last 
decade. It used to be that the world's best and brightest flocked to 
our shores. Now many of our own best and brightest are finding better 
opportunities in other countries, and we are losing our edge in the 
competition for top talent from around the world.
  Mr. Chair, I have many concerns with this bill. H.R. 5 opts to 
convert Title 1 funding into a block grant program. This change will 
disproportionally harm many disadvantaged low-income students. Schools 
across the country, including some in my Congressional district, rely 
on these funds to help ensure that all children meet State academic 
standards. Even the highest performing students in the urban schools 
are faced with an uphill battle in obtaining the same academic 
achievement present at the high performing schools. While college 
preparatory courses are standard for many students in our highest 
performing public schools, urban school districts often lack the 
resources to provide the same advantages to their students.
  According to the National Education Association, H.R. 5 ``as a whole 
it erodes the historical federal role in public education: targeting 
resources to marginalized student populations as a means of helping to 
ensure equity of opportunity for all students . . . [and] perpetuate[s] 
a system that intentionally delivers unequal opportunities and quality 
to children across this country.'' Even according to the U.S. Chamber 
of Commerce, H.R. 5, ``Would reduce school-level accountability, would 
not provide consequences for low-performing schools, and would not 
require states to adopt college- and career-ready standards and 
assessments.''
  Mr. Chair, the cuts in this bill which will ultimately result in a 
poorer education for future generations of young Americans represent a 
gigantic step backwards for our Nation. I strongly believe an 
investment in education funding is the most sensible investment we can 
make. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was first enacted at 
the height of the Civil Rights Movement in order to increase 
investments in primary and secondary education, strengthen equal access 
to education and establish high standards and accountability. Mr. 
Chair, in conclusion, I cannot support the bill we have before us today 
which erodes and dismantles the key principles of this law.

                          ____________________