Providing for Further Consideration of H.R. 5, Student Success Act, and Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2647 Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCIPT

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the rule and of the underlying bill.

We have a chance today to help put our K-12 education system back on track, helping students all across this country.

Over the past 6 months, I have traveled in my district to listen to the concerns of teachers, administrators, parents, and students.

One of the most common themes I hear is that there is too much confusion coming from Washington and that those who know what is best--our educators and parents--are not getting a say in our children's futures.

Local school districts understand the unique needs of their students far better than any bureaucrat in Washington ever will.

From No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, and waivers, the Department of Education has sent so many mixed signals that it is impossible for teachers and administrators to focus on what is needed most, flexibility to help students learn and succeed. This is why I am a strong supporter of H.R. 5.

I commend Chairman John Kline and Subcommittee Chairman Todd Rokita for putting forward legislation that ensures that students and schools are put first. Accountability will now be placed where it should have been all along, with States and local school districts.

Labeling half of all schools in the United States as failing has caused the Department of Education to become far too overreaching in defining accountability as they continue to shift the metrics on what is considered satisfactory.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5 empowers parents and students by giving them access to information about local schools in order to hold them accountable.

In addition, this bill eliminates 65 duplicative and underperforming programs and consolidates the money into a new grant program for local school districts. This money can be spent by districts to meet their unique needs.

Funding for title I remains robust in the bill, and students and parents retain the ability to make the best educational decisions for them by providing access to charter schools and magnet schools.

Particularly important for my constituents in New York is language in H.R. 5 that prevents the Secretary of Education from forcing States to implement Common Core.

I urge all Members to vote ``aye'' on the rule and to support the underlying bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source