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

FOR RELEASE
October 29, 1999

Contact:
Erica Lepping
(202) 401-3026

STATEMENT BY U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION RICHARD W. RILEY DENOUNCING HOUSE VOTE ON EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Bill Leaves American Priorities Unfunded

This bill fails to invest sufficiently in American priorities. Americans have made clear that they expect the federal government to wisely invest in improving education, but this bill fails to follow suit. The Republican proposed one percent across-the-board cuts would effectively slice $279 million out of the Department of Education, penalizing students and schools. Over 99 percent of our program funds go to states and schools, and a one percent cut would directly impact services to schools and students. It could mean delays in our ability to deliver $35 billion in grants and loans to students and schools.

Ask the parents of a first-grade student how they feel about the Republicans turning their backs on last year's bipartisan commitment to hire 100,000 teachers to reduce class size in the early grades. Their bill provides no guarantee that the 29,000 teachers hired for this year can continue teaching, and provides no funding for the additional 8,000 teachers the President's plan would support this year. And at a time when low-performing schools need to be turned around, the Republican bill falls short in the area of accountability by providing no funds for the President's proposal in this area.

I do not believe Americans want $264 million cut from critical reading and math assistance for over 400,000 disadvantaged children. That's what this bill would do. I do not believe parents want to see more than $300 million cut from President Clinton's request to fund safe places for almost 1 million children to learn during after-school hours. I do not believe communities looking for qualified teachers want to lose out on $36 million in teacher quality and recruitment programs. I do not believe the parents of the over 100,000 children struggling to learn to read who would benefit from the Reading Excellence program support a $27 million cut in this initiative. And for those retired military personnel willing to enter the classroom in poverty-ridden neighborhoods, this bill certainly sends the wrong message by eliminating the Troops to Teachers program.

The Republican majority's actions on this bill and their continued opposition to the President's efforts to help states and communities build and modernize 6,000 schools are the wrong way to go for our country.

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