[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11009]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    OPPOSING THE STUDENT SUCCESS ACT

  (Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as well in strong opposition to 
H.R. 5, the so-called Student Success Act.
  There should be no question that education in this country is a 
right, not a privilege. Every student deserves the opportunity to 
succeed, and that opportunity begins with equal access to high-quality 
education.
  But this bill severely undercuts our public schools. It slashes 
funding and takes away critical resources from students with the 
greatest needs. It eliminates key protections for students with 
disabilities. It guts support for vital afterschool programs.
  And on the Central Coast of California, where I am from, our high 
school graduation rates have continuously improved over the past 5 
years, exceeding statewide averages.
  We must build upon these successes, not turn the clock backwards by 
dismantling equity and accountability standards. We must instead 
continue to move forward, deliver the promise of a great education and 
the opportunity for a bright future. Sadly, this bill only takes away 
that promise.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 5.

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