[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19730]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 11, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3061) making 
     appropriations for the Department of labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes:

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise to bring 
attention to the need to appropriate an additional $5 million to 
Education Technology State Grants. This will offset the Safe and Drug-
Free Schools by $5 million.
  Throughout the last two decades, information technology has become 
increasingly prevalent in society. We, as policymakers, have been 
interested in the use of this technology in elementary and secondary 
schools partly out of concern over poor student performance, and the 
idea that educational technology can improve that performance. Also, 
many of us feel that students in America should receive training in 
school that will enable them to work in an increasingly technological 
environment. Furthermore, the Administration has stated that schools 
should use technology as a tool to improve academic achievement, and 
that using the latest technology in the classroom should not be an end 
unto itself.
  The purpose of my amendment speaks to the interests of Congress and 
that of the Administration. This amendment will provide more funding to 
a program that has worked for our kids. For fiscal year 2002, this bill 
will appropriate the same amount of funding it did last year. If we 
truly want our students to excel in technology so that they can 
successfully compete in this increasingly technological environment, we 
must continue to provide them with the tools necessary to do so. This 
is exactly what education technology state grants provide.
  Education technology state grants provide schools with the necessary 
support for the acquisition and use of technology and technology 
enhanced curriculums, instructions, and administrative support to 
improve education in elementary and secondary schools. Funds are 
allocated to states proportionate to their share of ESEA Title 1, Part 
A funding, which speaks to the heart of the digital divide--providing 
technology to those who otherwise would not have the opportunity to 
access it.
  Mr. Chairman, as the need for more people who are technologically 
savvy increases, we need to be certain that our students have the 
ability to successfully compete globally. There is no reason why 
companies on American soil continue to look for technologists outside 
of our country when we have able minds and bodies here. Let us take 
care of our country's future now. Let us assure America and its people 
that a decade from now we will have Americans who can run our computer 
programs and be the inventors of the latest technology.
  If the need to be competitive does not steer my colleagues in the 
right direction, let the need to have Americans only have access to our 
computers. Let Americans only have the ability to decode top secret 
information that may prevent further attacks against us. Let Americans 
lead us out of our vulnerable stage.
  I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and continue supporting 
our children in their efforts to become technologically savvy so that 
they may control our future.

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