[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 42 (Monday, October 25, 1999)]
[Pages 2106-2107]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on House Action on Education Legislation

October 21, 1999

    Making our schools work for all America's children is the most 
important challenge we face. By passing H.R. 2 today, the House took an 
important step toward improving educational opportunities for the 
Nation's most disadvantaged students. Although I have a number of 
concerns with this bill, I am pleased that H.R. 2 reflects a bipartisan 
consensus on several principles of the education reform plan I sent 
Congress earlier this year. As I said in my State of the Union Address, 
the Federal Government has a responsibility not only to invest more in 
our poorest schools, but to demand more results in return.
    In particular, the bill continues the work of standards-based 
reform, expands public school choice, and recognizes the importance of 
holding schools accountable for results. I am pleased that a solid 
bipartisan majority in the House voted to reject the false promise of 
vouchers. I am also pleased that the House, by passing the Mink 
amendment, chose to incorporate gender equity provisions in this 
legislation.
    As the reauthorization process continues, I will work with Congress 
to improve certain aspects of this bill, including provisions for

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students with limited English proficiency, as well as provisions that 
target funds to our neediest students, increase the quality of Title I 
instructors, and ensure that accountability systems are workable. We 
have more work to do to enact a strong, comprehensive plan to hold 
schools accountable for results. I urge Congress to continue moving 
forward.