HONORING AMERICA'S TEACHERS -- HON. GENE GREEN (Extensions of Remarks - May 11, 1999)

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HON. GENE GREEN OF TEXAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1999

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last week we celebrated National Teacher Appreciation Week and paid tribute to the dedicated men and women who serve as teachers. Our teachers are hardworking professionals who are on the front lines of our struggle to provide a quality education for every child in America. They work hard so that our children can succeed in life. While it is important to recognize and acknowledge their hard work and commitment to educate our children, we must also provide them with the necessary tools they need to give our children a quality education.

It is imperative that Congress pass legislation to provide the money to fulfill our commitment to IDEA so that learning disabled children don't lag behind nondisabled children. It is also important that we continue to fund afterschool programs, and class size reduction programs that will put 100,000 new teachers in our classrooms.

Presently, Congress is considering the Teacher Technology Training Act, which would provide money to local school districts to train teachers in classroom-related computer skills, and the School Construction Act, which would help our teachers by renovating and modernizing the classrooms and facilities. In addition, the President's budget proposal provides for at least an overall 15-percent increase in education programs. These proposals will provide teachers the tools to raise test scores, student achievement, and graduation rates.

However, most important for this Congress and vital for our students and teachers, is the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The programs in ESEA are critical to the most disadvantaged students in our educational system. They include monies for safe and drug-free schools, technology education, infrastructure improvement, and bilingual education.

In this week that we have set aside to honor our Nation's teachers, Congress needs to get its priorities in line and act on the legislation that would say more about our dedication to teachers and the education of our children. Our children and teachers need schools that are safe, modern, with small classes, and access to the Internet. The tragedy in Littleton, CO, showed the need for parents, teachers, administrators, and elected officials to work together and set as a national priority, our children.
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