Dan Miller: “I rise in support of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, at the beginning of the reauthorization process last year, there was…”

“I rise in support of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, at the beginning of the reauthorization process last year, there was a bipartisan effort to target scarce Federal dollars on title I and other programs focusing on broad national education concerns, rather than on specific constituencies. We hoped to eliminate or consolidate numerous categorical programs and use the savings to create better education opportunities for all students. During committee markup that concept was forgotten. Programs were reinstated which were originally eliminated not only in the President's reauthorization proposal, but also in his recent budget proposal. President Clinton called many of the programs worthy of termination or unneeded. Rather than follow the President's recommendations, the committee added many brand-new programs. We believe that the House should return to the original intention and eliminate the $1.8 billion of new programs as well as the $62 million of programs targeted for elimination by the President. We must begin eliminating and consolidating somewhere. The Innovative Elementary School Transition Project, formerly referred to as the Follow Through Program, should be eliminated. I agree with my colleague from Ohio, Mr. Boehner, and the President in this case. The Follow Through Program, in theory, is a noble idea, but the time has come to set priorities on Federal spending.”