Bob Schaffer: “America's children deserve the world's best education, but they are not getting it. Even though the Federal Government…”

“America's children deserve the world's best education, but they are not getting it. Even though the Federal Government has spent over $100 billion annually on education, 40 percent of our Nation's fourth graders fall below the basic level of reading achievement. Madam Speaker, it is little wonder the Department of Education has mismanaged and lost billions of taxpayer dollars, and millions more have been literally stolen from Department office buildings, stolen from America's children. The Department of Education cannot account for how it spent nearly $32 billion in taxpayer funds. Since 1983, more than 20 million students have reached their senior year unable to do basic math, and it all seems to have gone unnoticed by the Department of Education. The Department does not expect to pass audits for at least 2 more years. Madam Speaker, it is time that the Department of Education is held accountable for how it spends our money. The Clinton-Gore administration has been in office for 8 years, and they squandered their opportunity to help. Republicans believe no child should be left behind.”