Student Success Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. I thank the gentleman from Virginia for
yielding.

Mr. Chairman, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was passed
50 years ago to embody the promise that education is a right, not a
privilege. We are supposed to be guardians of that promise, not the
architects of its demise.

This reauthorization was an opportunity for Congress to delve in and
debate the most pressing issues facing our schools. Sadly, the
Republican majority chose to introduce a partisan bill behind closed
doors without a single public hearing. Now we have a bill that reflects
that lack of inclusion, takes hundreds of millions of dollars from our
most vulnerable children, and weakens the safeguards that govern
taxpayer money.

When I served on my local school committee, a tough economy meant
some really difficult decisions. Not everyone was happy, but we
listened. We listened to teachers, administrators, parents, students,
experts, and fiscal watchdogs, and we were guided by one simple
principle: what is best for our students. It is a shame Congress
couldn't find the will to do the same.

I urge my colleagues to reject H.R. 5.

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