James M. Jeffords: “Today, we are considering the conference report to the only outstanding education issue remaining from the last…”

“Today, we are considering the conference report to the only outstanding education issue remaining from the last Congress--the Education Flexibility Partnership Act. Today, we will complete last year's unfinished business. Over a year ago, the President told the Nation's Governors that passage of this legislation 'would dramatically reduce the regulatory burden of the federal government on the states in the area of education.' The National Governors' Association has strongly urged the Congress to pass Ed-Flex this year and today we will act on their request. The Education Flexibility Partnership Act, H.R. 800, will give States the ability, if they so choose, to make limited resources go further toward the goal of improving school and student performance. It offers a deal no one can refuse--results rather than red tape. Under Ed-Flex, the Department of Education gives a State authority to grant waivers within a State, affording each State the ability to make decisions about whether school districts may be granted waivers pertaining to certain Federal requirements.”