Political Quotes

“I rise to voice my concern over the dramatic cuts in education included in the FY97 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill. After $1.1 Billion in education cuts already imposed by the 104th, this Congress continues to wage war on our schools by proposing $400 million in additional cuts for Fiscal Year 1997. Under this bill my district of Guam would lose $1.7 million designed to keep our school environments safe and drug free, $200,000 in school improvement funds under Goals 2000, and $44,000 in Byrd Scholarships, just to list a few. In addition, special education will only receive level-funding which is totally inadequate given increases in enrollment and inflation. We can argue about what is or isn't a true cut but less money for more students at increased costs hurts any way you slice it. If this bill passes, a host of worthwhile programs including Title 1 and bilingual education will become this Congress's latest road kill. The elimination and reduction of these programs have real impact in the lives of our students. The ability of the Guam Public School System to meet the needs of our students would be seriously impaired by these cuts. We all agree that schools need to prepare our children for the 21st century but we refuse to give schools the tools necessary to fulfill their basic responsibilities. How can we continue to ask our schools to do more with less?”