Fully Fund the No Child Left Behind Act

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on Congress to support accountability in education reform. Last year, Congress passed President Bush's ``no child left behind'' education reform bill. The legislation authorized billions of dollars in new funding to support administration's reform effort that seeks to ensure accountability from our schools, but who will hold the administration accountable?

The fact is that this administration is shortchanging our schools nearly $20 billion under the No Child Left Behind. While our schools' struggle to meet tough new standards and local budgets is stretched to the limit in this bad economy, the administration has failed its responsibility to provide leadership and resources for our schools. Congress must hold the administration accountable. I have introduced legislation to do just that. H.R. 2366 requires full funding of the No Child Left Behind act or suspends its punitive measures. Without full funding, No Child Left Behind will become a massive unfunded mandate that will require cuts in vital services and increased property taxes or both. Similar legislation has been introduced in the other body, and I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort to hold the administration accountable to our children, to our schools, and to our taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to explain the effects on our States of the administration's cut of the No Child Left Behind Act. The $20 billion in education cuts could not come at a worse time as States scramble to close budget gaps and schools struggle to comply with the rigorous new law.

Across America, desperate measures are being taken. In Alabama, schools are being forced to raise class sizes. In Florida, two-thirds of the pre-kindergarten programs are being terminated. In Idaho, parents must raise money for teacher salaries through bake sales and auctions. In Illinois, they have laid off thousands of teachers and staff to increase class sizes and, in some schools, to nearly 40 students. Detroit plans to close 16 schools this month. In South Carolina, 2,000 teachers have been let go, and class sizes are up to 35 students.

This is just a sample of the consequences of the failure of the Federal Government to make good on its promises.

That is why I intend to introduce H.R. 2366, the Fully Fund the No Child Left Behind Act. Before we ask our schools to hold bake sales and our States to live with budget cuts, we should live up to our own budget cuts.

Mr. Speaker, Congress should honor its commitment to our students.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon the President held a Rose Garden ceremony to celebrate the No Child Left Behind Act. I voted for that legislation and I wish I could have joined in the celebration, but unfortunately because the administration refuses to fund the new law, I spent my afternoon answering questions from unhappy local leaders in my district who wanted to know where the money is going to come from to pay for the President's education reforms. Despite yesterday's White House photo op, the fact remains that the administration is cutting $20 billion from No Child Left Behind. Local leaders know that they will get stuck with the bill for these educational cuts.

Make no mistake, the Bush educational cuts will result in worse schools, cuts in local services like law enforcement and fire and rescue or higher property taxes, or all of the above. There has got to be a better way.

Last week I introduced H.R. 2366, the Fully Fund the No Child Left Behind Act. My bill simply requires the Federal Government to fund No Child Left Behind. Mr. Speaker, it is only fair. I urge my colleagues to join us in this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2366.