[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 175 (Thursday, December 3, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H9002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NEW MEXICO'S EDUCATION SYSTEM

  (Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico asked and was given 
permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise to draw 
attention to the concerns and frustrations among parents, educators, 
business leaders, and so many others in my home State of New Mexico.
  Today, I voted in favor of the Every Student Succeeds Act because I 
believe this legislation is better, quite frankly, than the status quo, 
and it will work to improve our education system.
  However, we cannot forget that many of New Mexico's schools are in 
trouble. These troubled schools stem from a lack of leadership at both 
the Federal and State levels.
  Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Education has not held New 
Mexico's leadership accountable for this failure. In fact, the Federal 
Government has enabled our States, including New Mexico, to put special 
interests ahead of student success.
  That is why Education Week ranked New Mexico as 49th out of 51, with 
a D-plus in preparing kids for college and a D-minus in K-12 
achievement.
  This lack of accountability at the State and Federal levels is 
harming a generation of New Mexico students. New Mexicans deserve far 
better. It is time we had leaders who take responsibility for improving 
our schools and that hold each other accountable when their actions are 
failing students.
  While the ESEA moves beyond the status quo, more needs to be done to 
help our students. I hope we will work together to do that.

                          ____________________