Albert Russell Wynn: “Mr. Chairman, I rise this evening to oppose this bill. Education is the key to the American dream and the key to global…”

“Mr. Chairman, I rise this evening to oppose this bill. Education is the key to the American dream and the key to global competitiveness for jobs, and this bill is inadequate, woefully inadequate to meet our young people's educational needs. Overall in this budget education is cut 7 percent below 1995 levels, 7 percent below 1995 levels, while enrollment is projected to increase by 7 percent over the next 6 years. In my State of Maryland alone enrollment has increased 12 percent between 1990 and 1995. This bill in inadequate. It provides $7.8 billion less than the President requested. Now, I have to tell my colleagues I am amazed when I hear Republicans puff out their chest and say, well, we only pay 5 percent of the cost of education anyway coming from the Federal Treasury. That is not something to be proud of. I dare say most taxpayers would like to see more Federal aid for education. Now, do not be fooled. Less Federal aid means only one thing: Higher State and local taxes, higher property taxes at the local level. Less Federal aid means larger classes, less equipment and materials, and poorer classes.”