Thomas Daschle: “let me commend the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts for his eloquent remarks and his leadership on this issue.…”

“let me commend the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts for his eloquent remarks and his leadership on this issue. This issue obviously is one of great importance to all of us, but it is not the only problem that is created as a result of this continuing resolution. The problem is not just education; the problem is funding for the environment, the problem is in funding for housing, for parks, for reservations, for veterans hospitals. This situation is getting worse and worse because we have not been able to pass the appropriations bills that directly address the many funding issues that this continuing resolution does in a very inefficient and unsatisfactory way. The 75 percent funding level represents the largest cut in education in history, Mr. President. Others stated that, but it bears repeating. We are cutting $3.1 billion out of education this year. There is no other time and no other situation that we have ever cut education that deeply. That is what this continuing resolution represents. It means cuts in reading and math programs for the disadvantaged students in title I. It means deep cuts in technology. It means cuts in our efforts to bring about meaningful school reform and the Goals 2000 and national education goals that are really a bipartisan effort that we called for all the way back in 1989. It means deep cuts in teacher development and training. It means cuts--in some cases elimination--of safe and drug-free schools.…”