[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 604]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



      EDUCATION: SPEND MONEY IN THE CLASSROOMS, NOT ON BUREAUCRACY

  (Mr. ROYCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, nothing is more important to Americans than 
the education of their children. Schools are one of the prides of our 
local communities, and we must do all that we can do to strengthen 
them. It is parents and it is teachers that know what is best for our 
children, and they are the ones that we must empower.
  The Dollars to the Classroom Act signals a dramatic shift in how 
Federal education dollars are delivered to our Nation's schools. In 
today's system, too many precious education dollars get lost in the 
bureaucracy, in the red tape. This money must be spent in the 
classrooms, not on more bureaucracy. That is why the Dollars to the 
Classroom Act is so important. It represents what our schools should 
be, schools where parents and local school districts decide what is the 
best way to teach their children, not Washington.
  This legislation requires that 95 percent of Federal funds be spent 
in the classrooms. This is one of our Republican education proposals. 
Currently only 65 percent of funds actually reach classrooms for our 
children. They are spent here in the bureaucracy.
  Our children are our future leaders. It is strong moves like these 
that will improve our local schools, and improve the quality of life 
for every American. I urge support for the Dollars to the Classroom 
Act.

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