[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10495]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



        VOTE AGAINST THE LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS BILL

  (Ms. BALDWIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the fiscal 
year 2001 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and 
Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
  Studies show that smaller class sizes help teachers provide more 
personal attention to students. Teachers are then able to spend less 
time on discipline, more on instruction for the students that they 
serve. This helps students receive a stronger foundation in basic 
skills, skills that will help them succeed in the 21st century economy. 
The economic function of education must not be overlooked if today's 
students are to compete in our rapidly growing global economy. I 
believe that we must ensure that young children have the kind of one-
on-one contact with teachers that smaller class sizes will permit.
  This bill does not include funding to hire new teachers to reduce 
class sizes. Let us stop talking about improving education and put our 
resources into the classrooms. I urge my colleagues to vote against 
this bill.




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