Eva M. Clayton: “it is inconsistent to talk about building for the future, while tearing down the present. Yet, Members of this House…”

“it is inconsistent to talk about building for the future, while tearing down the present. Yet, Members of this House seem ready to abandon education by making the largest cuts in our history, with overall funding for the Department of Education likely to be reduced by 25 percent. In fiscal year 1949, 9 percent of the Federal budget was spent on education. This year it is about 1.4 percent. On education spending, we are headed in the wrong direction. We talk about restoring families and helping our young people. Yet, we take away the very key to their ability to have useful and productive lives--the opportunity for an education. Recent national polls show that Americans overwhelmingly support education and believe that it should be a top priority of Congress. Instead of a tax cut for the wealthy, we should put more money into education for our children and for the future. We must restore these cuts. We must invest in America's families, America's children, America's future workers. We must be prepared to meet the challenges of the changing global economy. Stop the education cuts and secure America's economic future.”