Roger Wicker: “This is a good bill, Mr. Speaker. It is a bipartisan bill, as both sides have mentioned. It makes important strides in…”

“This is a good bill, Mr. Speaker. It is a bipartisan bill, as both sides have mentioned. It makes important strides in the areas of health and education. While we are providing the largest increase ever for Federal education programs, I am pleased that we are doing it in the right way. We are focusing on block grants. We are focusing on funding programs that reserve most education decisions for State and local officials. I am also pleased, Mr. Speaker, that we have found a better way to fund Title I programs. The new formulas that we are adopting will make sure that Federal education funds are going to the poorest school districts and are reserved for the neediest children. This bill also provides an increase of $1.2 billion over last year for State grants for special education.”