    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [September 16, 1997]
    [Page 1174]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Senate Action on Education Programs
    September 16, 1997

        The vote by a narrow majority of the U.S. Senate to support the
    Gorton amendment undermines the bipartisan spirit of cooperation that is
    so vital to improving American education. At worst, this decision to
    block grant education programs is, as Secretary Riley said, a ``back-
    door attempt to kill off the Department of Education.'' At best, the
    vote was a hasty, ill-considered decision that would have a serious
    impact on our schools.
        I welcome the Senate's overwhelming support for my proposal to offer
    States and communities voluntary national tests in fourth-grade reading
    and eighth-grade math. However, the adoption of the Gorton amendment
    less than 2 hours later eliminated the very funding needed to continue
    development of these tests.
        The Gorton amendment would halt many of our most successful efforts
    to improve education, including our efforts to get computers into every
    classroom, raise standards through Goals 2000, establish more charter
    schools, assist young people in making the transition from school to
    work, help parents and schools keep our children safe and drug-free, and
    create more opportunities to help immigrant children learn English and
    stay in school. The amendment would seriously harm the title I program,
    which provides extra help to low-income students so they can master the
    basic skills of reading and math and reach high academic standards. It
    also undermines programs targeted to help gifted and talented students,
    support arts education, and promote exciting new efforts to create
    technology partnerships. Further, this amendment would slash funds used
    to help adults with severe disabilities obtain employment.
        This is not a vote, as some would suggest, about who controls public
    education. Rather it is a vote about whether the Federal Government will
    maintain its commitment to help local communities strengthen
    accountability and raise academic standards in basic skills, improve
    teaching and learning, assist parents and schools in keeping children
    safe and drug-free, promote public school choice for parents and
    students, and prepare all of our students for the 21st century.
        The Department of Education has historically targeted its funding to
    schools that serve disadvantaged students. If the Gorton amendment
    became law, the wealthiest school districts would be the winners and the
    rest of our communities would inevitably be the losers.
        Politics must stop at the schoolhouse door. The Gorton amendment is
    unacceptable. I understand a similar provision may be offered in the
    House. Let me be clear. If necessary, I will use my veto power to make
    sure that no such provision becomes the law of the land.