[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6618]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



         GOP BUDGET INVESTS IN EDUCATION TO HELP OUR KIDS LEARN

  (Mr. COOKSEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COOKSEY. Mr. Speaker, for America to remain competitive in the 
21st Century, we must improve public schools and help children reach 
their full potential. I have a particular outstanding, I think many 
outstanding schools in my district, but today I have the Ruston Junior 
High School students in town.
  That is why the Republican budget proposal increases our commitment 
to public education so that today's children will be tomorrow's leaders 
in America and around the world. Republicans are providing $2.2 billion 
more in the elementary and secondary education funding over the last 
year's level. That is an increase of almost 10 percent, and more than 
$20 billion over the next 25 years or over the next 5 years.
  We need new solutions to help students learn, not just more money. 
That is why Republicans want to give parents and local teachers, not 
Washington bureaucrats, more control over Federal education dollars. 
That is why we need to expand education savings accounts to help 
students get out of failing schools. The Republican budget means more 
resources and a brighter future for millions of America's children and 
students.

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