[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11001]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRESS MUST REAUTHORIZE THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Ms. Fudge) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, today we find ourselves on the House floor 
yet again debating H.R. 5. After several months of delay, the majority 
party has yet to realize that this bill is not in the best interest of 
America's children.
  We all agree that Congress must reauthorize a strong Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act. H.R. 5 does not meet the test.
  Any reauthorization must ensure that education is properly funded at 
the State and Federal level for all of America's children; that all 
students have access to a well-rounded education, which includes 
subjects like physical education, music, and the arts; and that 
students are annually assessed, which allows for parents and teachers 
to measure students' progress.
  H.R. 5 does none of these things. Instead, it fails our students, our 
teachers, and our families. The bill drastically reduces education 
funding, eliminates and weakens protections for disabled students, 
fails to provide a well-rounded education for all students, and 
generally makes it more difficult to educate those for whom the act was 
designed to protect.
  The bill turns title I funding into a block grant. The program would 
disproportionately harm disadvantaged and low-income students. Schools 
across the country, including some in my own congressional district, 
rely on these funds to help ensure children are given a fair chance to 
meet State academic standards.
  H.R. 5 also allows title I dollars to become portable, which would 
divert much-needed funds from the highest need poverty schools and 
districts.
  H.R. 5 removes requirements that States ensure students graduate from 
high school college and career ready. The bill focuses primarily on 
math and reading assessments, without providing any programmatic 
support for literacy, for STEM, and for other subjects that provide a 
well-rounded curriculum. It eliminates wraparound support services, 
which are very important to needy students. It eliminates afterschool, 
family engagement, physical, dental, and mental health programs.
  This year, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act. The bill, essentially a civil rights law, 
reaffirmed that every child has the right to an equal opportunity for a 
quality education.
  However, H.R. 5 undermines the law's original intent, turning back 
the clock on equity and accountability in American public education and 
ignores the needs of America's most vulnerable students. H.R. 5 is a 
step backward in our country's education system. This legislation fails 
our students and their families.
  America deserves better.

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