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[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 9 (Thursday, January 15, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                               ATTAIN ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Achievement 
Through Technology and Innovation Act of 2009.
  The 111th Congress begins in an era of continued shrinking school 
budgets, overcrowded schools, and overextended teachers. On an 
individual and on a national level, these factors have dire 
consequences. The individual consequence is that millions of American 
children may never realize their full potential or the promise of the 
American dream.
  The national consequence is that our country loses the benefits of 
our children's talents and their potential to become our Nation's next 
generation of leaders in education, science, law, research, economics, 
engineering and all the key disciplines that have helped to make our 
Nation the greatest in the world.
  While there is no easy or single answer to the complex problems of 
education in our country, there are steps we can take now to put us on 
the path toward a quality education for all our children. One such step 
is to make technology literacy a priority and an integral part of every 
educational system in the country.
  From credible studies, we know technology can have a tremendous 
positive impact on student learning. This is especially evident in low 
income and minority communities where students are vulnerable to 
falling behind and learning 21st century skills critical to individual 
success and to America's success in today's world economy.
  Whether preparing for college or going directly into the workforce, 
students are increasingly required to have the high-tech skills 
employers and the world market continue to demand.
  Therefore, it is a tragedy that in the United States today we have 
high dropout rates that exceed 50 percent and school districts that 
cannot keep up with the technology needs of their students. Passage of 
the ATTAIN Act will help us to address these serious problems.
  For example, at the School for Global Studies in my district, I had 
the opportunity to see firsthand the benefits and the life-changing 
impact teaching with technology has on a child's life.
  While touring the school, I met some of the students who confided 
that if it were not for the meaningful technology program at Global 
Studies, they probably would have dropped out of school and ended up in 
some serious trouble. Instead, these students are excited about 
learning and excited about their future.
  The excitement and the hope students feel at Global Studies is what 
every child in our country deserves to feel about their education and 
the promise of their future. The ATTAIN Act will help to make that 
possibility a reality for all our children.
  The ATTAIN Act would amend the Enhancing Education Through Technology 
program and the No Child Left Behind Act. Currently, the No Child Left 
Behind Act allocates 50 percent of technology education funds to 
schools with disadvantaged students through formula grants. The ATTAIN 
Act would increase that percentage to 60 percent. This funding would be 
used to purchase new technology and train teachers on how to 
effectively use these new tools.
  The remaining 40 percent of ATTAIN funds would be distributed through 
competitive grants that encourage schools to undertake comprehensive, 
technology based, reform initiatives that have been proven to increase 
student achievement.
  Madam Speaker, we know that when teachers are properly trained and 
schools are properly equipped with technology, students are engaged, 
eager to learn, and ultimately better prepared to address and to lead 
our country to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We have already 
lost the untapped talents of thousands of our young people.
  Passage of the ATTAIN Act will help to reverse this tremendous loss 
of unrealized potential.
  I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the ATTAIN Act and help with its 
passage.

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