Steny Hoyer: “Of the money, discretionary money, that we spend on education--which is, as the gentleman points out, a relatively small…”

“Of the money, discretionary money, that we spend on education--which is, as the gentleman points out, a relatively small percentage of the total amount spent on education in this country, 2 percent--2 percent, is administrative cost. Two percent is administrative cost, I tell my friend. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Of course, one could say we will put $20 million more in title I. We ought to put $20 million more in title I. We ought to put $100 million more in title I, I tell my friend from Florida, but we are not doing it because the 602(b)s have been squeezed very badly. Why? Because the Republican tax cut was deemed to be essential in a time when we are trying to balance the budget and serve our children. I tell my friend, that 2 percent--2 percent--is administrative cost for the administration of the 98 percent of discretionary funds which is sent either to students or to schools and local school districts. Two percent. All the gentleman wants to do is, as he frankly likes to do on a regular basis, attack the bureaucrats. These are real people doing important things, trying to make programs that this Congress adopts work.”