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The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. WOOLSEY) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I ran for Congress, and I am here today, because I believe that our children's education must be the number one priority in this country. We must prepare all of our children for the high-skill, high-wage jobs that will ensure America's leadership in the world marketplace and, at the same time prevent dependency on welfare here at home.
Public education is the backbone of our country. It is why we are a great Nation. Public education must be available to all, and it must be the best in the world. Public education does not discriminate; and it must be strengthened, not weakened.
This Congress, we have an opportunity that comes along only once every 5 years, and that is the opportunity to review and update the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, ESEA.
ESEA is best known for Title I, the education for the disadvantaged. ESEA is known for the dollars it sends to schools. Title I is important because it helps disadvantaged children achieve along with their more fortunate peers, and it helps poor and impacted schools and school districts keep up with the more advantaged schools and school districts in this Nation.
Title I must be supported; and, as well, we must ensure that every child gets individual attention in the early grades to build a solid foundation for future learning. We can do this by making the administration's initiative to reduce class size permanent. This initiative helps school districts recruit, hire, and train enough qualified teachers to reduce class size to an average of 18 in grades 1 through 3.
Current research findings prove what parents and teachers have known for years: Kids who are in smaller class sizes learn better, especially in the lower grades. Our schools need 100,000 new, well-trained teachers.
We also know how hard it is for children even in small classes to learn in trailers or in old school buildings that are crumbling around them. I support the President's proposal to make it easier for school districts to fund needed schools and to build new ones by providing interest rate subsidies for school construction bonds over the next 2 years. Is it not time to show all of our children that their school is as important as a shopping mall or as a prison?
While I certainly support the current emphasis on ending social promotions, ESEA is also the place to assist all schools in preventing students from failing in the first place. Title XI of ESEA lets school districts spend up to 5 percent of their Federal education funds on coordinated services, services that will bring schools and their local communities together to make sure that, every day, every student comes to school ready to learn. Services such as health care, before and after school care, and tutoring ensure that no child is doomed to fail before they even enter the classroom.
There are wonderful examples all around the Nation of schools and communities working together to lift children and their families out of an endless cycle of failure and into a future of success.
Students who are ready to learn need well-trained teachers who are experts in their subjects. They need a challenging curriculum and up-to-date technology to prepare them for the sophisticated world we live in. Every student, regardless of family income, race or gender must have access to the most modern technological education available.
In addition, teachers as well as students must have mentors; and they must have support for learning to use technology so that they will be comfortable and knowledgeable in a technological environment.
As a member of both the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Science, I am excited to have this significant opportunity to make positive changes in our children's education; to remove any economic or gender gap in science, math and technology; to ensure small classes with well-trained teachers; to provide funding for modern, safe schools; and to give all students a world-class education.
Mr. Speaker, children are only 25 percent of our population, but they are 100 percent of our future. A sound public school system is how we protect that future. A good education for all of our children will ensure America's future.
END