[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3435]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                EDUCATION MUST BE OUR NUMBER 1 PRIORITY

  (Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I ran for Congress, and I am here today 
because I believe that our children's education must be the number one 
priority in our country. Education is another of President Clinton's 
major budget priorities because he also agrees that we must prepare all 
of our children for the high-skill, high-wage jobs that will insure 
America's leadership in the world marketplace and at the same time 
prevent dependency on welfare here at home.
  Public education is the backbone of our country. It is why we are a 
great Nation. Public education is available to all.
  This Congress we have an opportunity that comes along once every 5 
years, and that opportunity is to review and update the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act. ESEA is best known for Title I, the program 
that educates the disadvantaged. Title I is important because it helps 
disadvantaged children achieve along with their more fortunate peers.
  Title I must be supported. Tax relief for the well off must wait.

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