[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 123 (Tuesday, July 18, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS IN POVERTY

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight 
a growing injustice against millions of students throughout the 
country.
  Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is the largest 
source of Federal assistance for schools and students in poverty. These 
targeted formula grants are intended to combat the effects of poverty 
upon student achievement.
  Unfortunately, the current formula has the perverse effect of 
diverting funds from the higher poverty school districts to more 
populous school districts that, in many instances, do not have high 
levels of poverty. This runs counter to congressional intent and 
negates the fact that poverty is poverty regardless of where it occurs.
  To right this wrong, I have introduced H.R. 4565, the All Children 
are Equal Act, to ensure that all title I funds are distributed based 
on actual need and levels of poverty in a given school district.
  No kid should be discriminated against based on their ZIP Code, and 
it is time for Congress to act and ensure no student gets left behind. 
I encourage all of my colleagues to support this commonsense measure to 
ensure all children are truly treated equally.
  Mr. Speaker, I take personal privilege as chair of the Congressional 
Scouting Caucus to wish all those Scouts attending the 2023 National 
Jamboree a great experience.

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