[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6947]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    SUPPORT DOLLARS TO THE CLASSROOM

  (Mr. ROYCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, this morning I had the opportunity to join 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) at a press conference for 
the Dollars to the Classroom Act. And also present were students from 
around the country and teachers and administrators speaking in support 
of the bill.
  Unfortunately, as the system is set up now, as little as 65 cents on 
the dollar makes it to the classroom. That is wrong. Many children are 
being shortchanged. Congress must downsize bureaucracy to ensure 
students get the best possible education.
  What the Dollars to the Classroom Act would do is to mandate that at 
least 95 percent of Federal education dollars end up where it is needed 
most. Teachers, and most importantly our children, will be direct 
beneficiaries of the spending, and not the bureaucrats. And under this 
legislation each school would receive an increase of $10,000.
  Cole Allen is an 8th grader. He is from Pennsylvania. He spoke at 
today's conference about the need for more money in the classroom. He 
said his geography book is titled ``World Geography Today,'' but it 
should be called ``World Geography 13 Years Ago.''

                              {time}  1415

  Mr. Speaker, we need the money in the schools for the books.

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