[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23677-23678]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  BRINGING TECHNOLOGY TO THE CLASSROOM

  (Mr. FERGUSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, preparing and educating our students for 
the global economy of the 21st century must be one of America's top 
priorities.
  As a father and a former teacher, I am increasingly concerned about 
the shortage of technology in our Nation's schools. While there are 
some 8.2 million instructional computers in our elementary and 
secondary schools, the additional resources that are needed are 
startling. At least 5 million new computers are needed at this time, 
and the number will be higher tomorrow and next month and next year.
  There is widespread concern about the academic performance of 
students in the United States relative to their counterparts in other 
nations. It is time that we have a clear and focused vision to bring 
educational technology to the classroom for the sake of our most 
precious resource, our children.

[[Page 23678]]

  This week I introduced legislation, House Resolution 295, calling for 
a commission on technology and education that is comprised of 
educators, parents and tech industry leaders to help bring technology 
into the classroom. If we can do this effectively, students will learn 
the skills they need to prepare for a successful future in our high-
tech world.
  Let us pass this resolution and give our kids another chance for a 
brighter future tomorrow in our increasingly competitive world.

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