Dale Kildee: “I rise in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman's amendment would strike key portions of title 2…”

“I rise in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman's amendment would strike key portions of title 2 which are designed to increase opportunities for students to achieve high standards and to prepare for the 21st century. Specifically, the amendment would strike provisions on technology education, library media services, and Federal leadership technology. Providing teachers with opportunities to become more proficient in using technology as an educational tool is very, very important. The gentleman's amendment would strike the Office of Technology Education, which is supported by the administration and for which the administration has requested funding. Now, I ask the Members to listen to this: The amendment would strike assistance to libraries. The average copyright date of a book in the libraries of the schools in our country is 1965. Let me repeat: 1965 is the average copyright date of the books in our schools. That was before we landed a man on the moon. We are asking our kids to do their research, prepare their reports, and educate themselves, using books that we would hardly use here to do our research. It goes back to 1965. This is an investment. The gentleman in his amendment is asking us to strike an investment in education.”