Congressional Record—Senate S2099
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March 17, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð SENATE S2099 talk about that a little bit. Again, re- of Americans in seeing to it that all when you put it all together, you have lating to some of the innovations going children, whether they live in Chicago not served transportation from one end on in Illinois, there is a consortium of or California or Detroit or in Florida or of this country to the other. You have some 20 school districts in the Chicago in Georgia or in AlabamaÐthat all left the issue of transportation up to area. It is called the First in the World children in this country receive the the resources of the specific and dis- Consortium. They lived up to their best possible education that we can crete communities and, more to the name because in the international give them. It is particularly important point, the property tax base that that math and science tests of which I spoke in this information age, given the tech- community can resort to. That is how earlier, this group of schools scored nological revolution, because the com- we fund education in this country. By first in the world. They were all public mand of and the ability to manipulate relying on the local property tax base, school students and they scored first in and use information will be more im- we depend entirely on the accident of math and scienceÐthe public school portant in the workforce of the future geography and demographics whether system, and they received the best re- than it is today. If we do not educate or not a child's school will be adequate sults in the world in these areas. our children, we will, as a country, see to provide a quality education. The results of these tests prove that a lessening in the ability of our na- So I say to my colleagues that, as we America's public schools can produce tional workforce to be productive in look at this issue, let's find common the best and the brightest students in these global markets. ground, let's stop pointing fingers, and, the world if only they have the sup- So, to use an analogy, when it comes as much the point, let's not continue port, the resources and the tools with to talking about what is our interest, to allow the kind of savage inequalities which to do the job. What does the why should the Senator from Illinois that exist among communities based First in the World Consortium have care about education for a child from on wealth to determine the future of that too many of our schools lack? It is North Dakota or why should the Sen- our country in this 21st century global not the kids. It is not the makeup of ator from Illinois care about the edu- economy. If a community does not the students. Our children are as capa- cation of a child in Alabama, the rea- have the property tax resources to pro- ble of performance as children any- son I care is I love my country and I vide for educational opportunity, then where else in the world, whether they care about the ability of my country to that community ought to be supported come from rich families or from poor have a workforce that can function in in its efforts to educate its children by families. We have some of the brightest this global economy. Just as in the the State and by the National Govern- students in the world, who only need 1950s it was seen as in our national in- ment. We all have a role to play. We all the opportunity to learn. The dif- terest to bring our country together, have a contribution to make. ference, however, is what support we as this debate holds the same promise. Again, finger pointing only hurts the a community provide for those chil- This debate will either turn on a vision children. I am going to, at this point, dren. The schools that comprise the of America that says we are all con- thank the Chair and yield the floor. I First in the World Consortium have nected to each other, we all have a re- just say I look forward very much to some of the best facilities in this coun- sponsibility to each other, or it will continuing this debate in the upcoming try. They have small classes. They turn on a vision of America that says, days. I think it is one of the most im- have modern technology. They have ``I've got mine; you get yours. In your portant debates that we can take up as supportive communities. And they State, in your city, education is your a Senate. I think the future of our have engaged and involved parents and problem.'' country, indeed our national security, teachers. I suggest the time for the finger- hangs on our ability to address in a We all, I think, have a responsibility pointing on education has to stop. We sensible and workable and comprehen- to ensure that every American child have to form a partnership that will sive way, the challenge of public edu- will have access to the same kind of provide our schools with the resources cation for the 21st Century. quality education that is made avail- that we will need to educate our chil- I yield the floor. able in the public schools at the First drenÐall of them. Again, to use the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- in the World Consortium. The tax analogy from the 1950s, President Ei- ator from Kansas is recognized. Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, the changes envisioned in this legislation senhower saw the value in providing parliamentary situation is such that will not accomplish that goal. The bill our country with an interstate high- we are in morning business and Sen- will not result, again, in the improve- way system. He brought America to- ators are permitted to speak for up to ment of a single public school. The gether by providing a system whereby 10 minutes; is that correct? the National Government would con- amendment which I hope to talk about The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- tribute to the construction and the de- suggests that we have to undertake a ator is correct. velopment of roads all across this partnership between the State and f local and National Governments to country. That interstate highway sys- provide the kind of resources for public tem brought us together as a nation NATO EXPANSION education that made our country the and served our national interests in Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, the strongest in the world and will keep it transportation. letter got lost in the mail. It never the strongest in the world for the 21st The way that we are funding edu- made it to President Yeltsin. It never Century. cation currently would be the equiva- made it to the radar crews in Russia. This conversation is going to go on lent of saying to each and every com- As a result, within minutes, Russian for a couple of days. I would like to munity in AmericaÐwhich, of course, President Boris Yeltsin was brought a leave you with an analogy which I we are saying to each and every com- black nuclear command suitcase and think is absolutely appropriate when munity in AmericaÐyou go find the for several minutes, wild confusion we talk about how we are going to ad- money from your local property tax reigned in Russia, as Russia's com- dress the challenge of education for the base to provide for your schools. And if mand and control system was operat- 21st Century. you don't have the money in your local ing in a combat mode. There have been some arguments property taxes for your schools, it will The letter was from the Norwegian that it is not the Federal Government's just be too bad. To use the road anal- Foreign Ministry, and it was routine. job; that, indeed, it should be left to ogy again, it's like saying in those It informed the Russians and other sur- the locals to address education, and it communities that have a limited prop- rounding countries that a joint United is their job, it is their responsibility to erty tax base and in poor communities, States and Norwegian research rocket see to it that the schools in a local they will have shoddy roads if any would be launched to study the north- community function well and provide roads at all. The middle-class commu- ern lights. As I say, it was a foulup, a quality education. I would point out to nities with moderate means will have bureaucratic foulup, and it prompted a the Presiding Officer and to anyone kind of a hodgepodge and a mix of de- hair-trigger war scare, a nuclear war else listening that that analogy fails cent roads and kind-of-decent roads; scare, only 3 years ago. altogether to recognize our national in- and the wealthy communities will have Mr. President, I rise today to focus terest and our interest as a community the greatest roads in the world. But on this incident, because I believe it is S2100 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð SENATE March 17, 1998 the kind of discussion that we should My bottom-line concern and fear is The reason is that Russia's system of early carefully consider as we move to the that this administration has no long- warning of a possible attack, and command debate on NATO and NATO expansion range, overarching strategy in our re- and control of nuclear forces, is suffering many of the same problems plaguing the en- and the kind of debate that has not re- lations with Russia.