[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 1602-1603]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE FOR ALL LEARNERS ACT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, today, I am cosponsoring S. 7, the 
Educational Excellence for All Learners Act. This bill increases school 
capacity, makes schools accountable for results and ensures increased 
student achievement. S. 7 ensures that the federal government uphold 
its commitment to the local school districts to fully fund the IDEA 
program.
  S. 7 also promotes literacy by increasing the funding for the Reading 
Excellence Act. Another area in great need for resources in our 
educational system is teacher training. Senator Conrad and I have 
proposed legislation that is included in S. 7 which would

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provide federal support for teacher technology training to better 
prepare teachers to teach technology to our children.
  But, I am gravely concerned that we will not have the resources that 
will be needed to properly fund our obligations to education--and give 
back to the American family. A tax cut of the magnitude that George W. 
Bush is pushing will not only eliminate any increase in funding for the 
military--as President Bush announced a few days ago--but it will also 
eliminate any increase in funding for the education of our children.
  I say to President Bush--we should not leave our children behind. I 
am not saying that Democrats do not support a tax cut. To the contrary. 
However, the difference between Democrats and Republicans is that 
Democrats are unwilling to jeopardize the domestic dividends that will 
materialize over the next generation for the health and education of 
our families.
  Specifically, we have to have a fiscally responsible tax cut that 
allows us to protect social security, provide a prescription drug 
benefit, fund education, ensure a strong and stable military, and 
continue to pay down the debt. Paying down the debt is better than a 
tax cut because it provides a more direct and efficient mechanism to 
stimulate the economy through lower interest rates, lower inflation and 
higher family incomes.
  We know that, as the Governor of Texas, President Bush made grand 
proposals, got just a little piece of what he asked for, and walked 
away declaring victory. He knows that he won't get all $1.6 trillion of 
his tax cut. But he could have--the American people could have--a tax 
cut of $900 billion. This amount exceeds the tax cut put forward by the 
Republicans in 1999 (that was $792 billion)--less than 3 years ago. A 
tax cut of $900 billion provides immediate elimination of the estate 
tax for virtually all taxpayers (e.g., 95 percent of family farms and 
75 percent of family businesses), complete elimination of all 65 
marriage penalties, college tuition tax credits and child care credits. 
And, we can provide business tax cuts such as incentives for research 
and development and employee pension benefits.
  The people of Nevada want a tax cut, I want a tax cut, and Democrats 
want a tax cut. But we should all remember--the people of Nevada want a 
strong educational system, I want a strong educational system, and 
Democrats want a strong educational system. Let us not leave any child 
behind in this tax and budget debate.

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