A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

     FOR RELEASE                                       Contact: Rick Miller      July 12, 1996                                              (202) 401-3026

Statement of U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley Regarding the U. S. House of Representatives' Vote on the 1997 Education Budget

The House voted to slash the President's 1997 budget request by $2.8 billion. These painful cuts would deny students the opportunity to learn the computer skills they will need to succeed in the 21st century; deny services to more than 400,000 poor and disadvantaged children who need extra help in reading, writing, and math; undermine student loan programs; and slow down the drive to raise academic standards and student achievement.

These cuts come at the worst time of all, when there will be more students in America's classrooms than ever before.

If the budget battle of 1996 taught us anything, it is this: Americans agree with President Clinton that we must increase our nation's investment in education within a balanced budget plan. They have made this clear, over and over again.

We hope that in the weeks ahead, Congress will join with the President and the American people to make education a top priority.