Date: 2014-05-08
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the subcommittee chairman. Mr. ROKITA. for bringing this bill to the floor. and to Congresswoman MCCARTHY. the ranking member on the subcommittee. for all of their effort to make sure that this legislation was considered in this session of Congress. The Strengthening Education Through Research Act. SETRA. bolsters education research in a way that benefits both students and teachers. Congress passed the Education Sciences Reform Act. commonly known as ESRA. in 2002 to strengthen the quality and rigor of education research. Twelve years later. we have a wealth of information that can be used to determine what is working for students. make corrections. and drive longlasting improvements. but research is not effective if it stays locked in computer files or is only published in abstract trade journals. Research must be relevant. timely. and useful. It must be used to solve real problems faced by students and teachers. I am pleased that this legislation will address this challenge. making education research more valuable. At the same time. it will ensure that research remains accurate. rigorous. and scientific. I am also pleased SETRA increases the Federal investment in education research. In particular. our teachers need better actionable research on educating students with disabilities. To address that need. SETRA includes a large increase in the funding of special education research. helping to make up for the devastating cuts in The historic Federal role in education is protecting and promoting equity. SETRA maintains that commitment in three key ways. This bill keeps a laserlike focus on closing the achievement gap and ensuring that all students obtain a highquality education. The bill ensures that we collect data such as graduation rates and student achievement. but also vital information on school climate. student safety and discipline. and student access to great teachers. This bill helps States and school districts use data systems to improve teaching and learning. Mr. Speaker. I have often said that we. in the Federal Government. must get back to partnering with schools to improve students lives. I am proud to say that this legislation takes a solid step in that direction. providing research that helps teachers and schools improve the student learning environment. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation. Again. I want to thank Mr. ROKITA for bringing this legislation to the floor. Before I yield the floor. Mr. Speaker. I would like to take a moment of this debate time that has been allocated to pay tribute and say thank you to Jeremy Ayers of our staff. who will be leaving the committee at the end of this month. This is Jeremy sitting right here. in case anybody didnt know who he was. Bring the cameras in a little closer. Jeremy skillfully managed the negotiations on the bill before us today and led the committee work on education technology. accountability in elementary. and secondary education and oversight in the administrations waiver policy. among other issues. Jeremy is a strong advocate of what is best in the interest of students and has always maintained a focus on equity and civil rights. His humor and quick wit were always a welcomed addition to what sometimes can be hard and tedious policy work. Jeremy has been a valued policy adviser and member of our education team. and he will be missed by the committee members on both sides of the aisle and all of his colleagues. Thank you. Jeremy. for all of your service to our committee and to our education establishment in this country. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.