Herb Kohl: “I rise as a cosponsor of the education amendment offered by Senators Murray and Kerry. This amendment would restore the…”

“I rise as a cosponsor of the education amendment offered by Senators Murray and Kerry. This amendment would restore the overall funding level for critical education and training programs jeopardized under this budget proposal. The amendment is fully paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes. Students, parents, and teachers taught us a valuable lesson this past year. The budget we are considering today seems to have missed the main tenet of that lesson--this Nation can not afford large education cuts. Mr. President, over the next 6 years, funding for education programs under this budget would be reduced by 17 percent in real dollars, a cut of $7.4 billion. Such a weak commitment to education ignores profound challenges facing students, schools, and families. School violence is more and more prevalent; yet this budget jeopardizes the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program. The cost of obtaining a college education is going through the roof; yet this budget restricts opportunities for college aid. Math and reading scores of children are stagnant; yet Title I funding to help the most disadvantaged children build basic skills is weakened. And technology is racing past the classroom door; yet this budget leaves education technology programs behind. How can we make such assumptions? Because those programs were targeted for devastating cuts under the partisan budget plan last year--the same cuts which were so soundly rejected by the American people.”