William L. Clay: “I oppose H.R. 3019. This bill would make the largest cuts in education funding in the Nation's history. Its cuts are…”

“I oppose H.R. 3019. This bill would make the largest cuts in education funding in the Nation's history. Its cuts are worse than the cuts found in the current continuing resolution it would replace. The bill causes local school districts even more uncertainty than the existing CR because the bill promises to restore some funds, but only upon the passage of separate legislation at some uncertain date. The local planning and budgeting process will be turned on its head by this foolish provision. The bill includes huge funding cuts in title I, Safe and Drug Free School, Summer Jobs Program, job training, and school improvement programs. The education cuts proposed by the Republicans place our Nation and our future at a grave risk. Earlier this week, Democrats on the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities heard from people on the education frontline: parents, teachers, and students. They described for us, in vivid detail, the potential damage of Republican budget cuts on education at the local level. We explored what would happen if the defunding of education is not stopped. If the continuing resolution is extended through the fiscal year, our Nation will face the largest cut in education funding in its history. We will have stolen $3.3 billion from America's schoolchildren. They are a national treasure; we must protect them from idiotic, antieducation budget cuts.”