[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3363]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 BUSH SLASHING FUNDING TO EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS IN 2008 
                                 BUDGET

  (Mr. HILL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, the President's budget serves as a blueprint 
as to what his priorities will be for the upcoming year.
  At a time when our economy is becoming increasingly competitive, it 
is essential that we fully fund education programs across the board. 
Unfortunately, education is not prioritized in the President's budget.
  Funding for No Child Left Behind remains about $15 billion below the 
level promised when the bill was first signed into law in 2001. How can 
we hold our schools accountable when the President refuses to provide 
the funds needed to improve many of these schools?
  The President finally makes good on a 6-year-old promise to increase 
the amount of money given to low-income students through the Pell Grant 
program, but it comes at a price. The President proposes recalling all 
Perkins loans and eliminating nine other higher education assistance 
programs.
  At a time when college is becoming more out of reach for many 
Americans, we should be looking to strengthen all college assistance 
programs so more high school seniors have a chance to attend.
  Mr. Speaker, Democrats, this one included, will once again make 
education a priority for our Nation's students.

                          ____________________