Sam Gibbons: “this week we will be considering the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill, and inevitably the debate…”

“this week we will be considering the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill, and inevitably the debate will arise on funding for education. Yet, this Republican Congress has made the real commitment to educating the children of America. We have increased America's investment in education by 50 percent since taking control of Congress. This year alone education funding has increased by $2 billion. That is 10 percent more than last year. But the dollar figures do not tell the whole story. Our commitment to education lies in the fact that we are committed to supporting our parents, teachers, and local school officials, the people who know our children and what they need. Mr. Speaker, Federal dollars should go straight to the classroom where they can be used for teachers, books, pencils, or computers, whatever needs are best for the education of our students. I urge all of my colleagues to support our efforts, and I yield back the ``Washington knows best'' policy promoted by the Clinton-Gore administration.”