[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4814]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT

  (Ms. WILSON of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as we mark the 50th anniversary 
of the ESEA, we reflect on the simple yet powerful promises that are at 
the center of this civil rights law, promises made to all American 
children--a promise that no matter where you live or what you look like 
you will not be ignored, a promise that no matter what resources you 
have you will not be undervalued, a promise that, no matter what, you 
deserve a quality education.
  The ESEA was a substantial step towards fulfilling these promises, 
but we still have work to do. As we work towards reauthorization, we 
cannot break those promises. We cannot break our promise to make every 
child count by failing to gather information on student achievement for 
all children. We cannot break our promise to value every child by 
failing to target funding at the schools that need it the most. We 
cannot break our promise to uphold the civil rights of all children to 
have a quality education. Because all children are worthy, we cannot 
break our promise.
  Thank you for all that you do on behalf of our children. They are our 
future.

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