Date: 2001-05-22
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself the balance of my time. and I want to thank all the members of our committee on both sides of the aisle that have participated in this debate and to the other Members that have joined us during this general debate. They were very generous in their congratulating both the chairman and myself. and I want to extend that to the chairman again for the manner in which this bill has been handled. We have an opportunity here today to change the direction of the Federal role in education. to provide additional resources to local educational agencies with greater flexibility than they have had at any time in the life of this program. They can apply these resources to those needs they think need them the most. that need the attention. that can benefit from the application of those resources to try to get the results that all of us want with the passage of this legislation. but more importantly. to get the results the parents want for children and the children want for themselves. Our children in America have that potential. they have that ability. and they have that talent. But far too often. far too often. they lose the opportunity to capitalize on their talents. to capitalize on their ability. because they are ignored in the school district or the school district is without resources. or children are mischaracterized. A lot of things happen during the educational year. This legislation is to try to make sure we put the emphasis on the child. that we have a means. as the President said. to assess a child on an annual basis so that we can determine what are the additional resources that that child needs. what kind of help should be focused on that child. In these annual assessments. it is more than just a test. it is about seeing whether or not the child needs a Saturday class. do they need a tutor. do they need a mentor. both of which are allowed under* this legislation. Do they need to go to summer school? Do they need some additional testing? Do they need eyeglasses? Those are the kinds of things we want to be able to focus on the child so that every child has that real opportunity. We have the opportunity if. in fact. we provide those resources. We focus on the child and we can start to close that gap between rich and poor children. between majority and minority children in the school. The other tools that are available is the resources we put into teacher quality. to professional development. to training. to lower class sizes in those areas that have not done it and still need to do that. Those are decisions that the local school district can make. It is very important. We know now that a wellqualified teacher is one of the most important ingredients in that childs education in the school setting. Obviously. we believe the most important iagredient is the family. If there is one thing this bill cannot do. that would greatly help usall. is if we could just get every parent to spend time with their child. or grandchild. reading to those children and telling them that it is important. This education would complement that. and we would be well on the way to the goal the President has had. that so many Members of this Congress have had. and that is to make sure that each and every child has that opportunity. Mr. Chairman. I look forward to the amendment process.