On the recordJuly 18, 2013
I oppose this amendment, we oppose this amendment because we believe it is redundant and ideological. It truly is a solution in search of a problem. Not one word of existing Federal law, and as I read it, not one word of the underlying bill, authorizes the Federal Department of Education to create curriculum, any sort of curriculum for States and for local school districts. As a matter of fact, I would offer the author of the amendment just this one thought, and I know he is proceeding with a good-faith intent to make sure that the day never comes when there is a national curriculum. I think in some ways this amendment is contrary to that goal because it implies that the amendment is necessary. The amendment is unnecessary if, as is the case, there is no present authority for a national curriculum in Federal law, and there is no existing authority under the proposed bill for a national curriculum. Adding this may actually raise the ambiguity that there is something in existing Federal law or in the bill that would authorize a national curriculum. So I think that this is simply a statement to try to solve a problem that does not exist in present law or in this bill, and I would respectfully urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).
