Providing for Further Consideration of H.R. 529, Section 529 College Savings Plans Amendments; Providing for Consideration of H.R. 5, Student Success Act; And for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House
bring up H.R. 861, the clean Department of Homeland Security funding
bill, that would keep the Department open so it can carry out its
mission of keeping the American people safe.

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Mr. ELLISON. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding and thank the
gentleman for his long service.

Mr. Speaker, the passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 was created to address the enormous inequality in America's
educational system, which created widespread poverty and segregation.
Today, we know that we are still not educating Black and Latino
students at the same level we educate White students. Fifty years after
the enactment of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, educating
all children, regardless of their backgrounds, is still one of the most
important challenges we face as a nation.

That is why equity must start at the heart of any attempt to overhaul
our education system, but the Student Success Act does little to help
kids in Minnesota who are struggling in schools with too few resources.
Rather than eliminating the disparities in our education system, the
bill today will only increase the achievement gap and leave behind
students from low-income neighborhoods and students with disabilities.

Education matters, far beyond the individual student. Three-fourths
of the return on early education goes back to the community and ensures
a healthier society and more stable economy.

One of the biggest gaps in literacy in the U.S. is between the
children of college-educated and non-college-educated parents. We must
be more committed to maximizing the potential of all students. Our
students and teachers deserve better. I urge that we all oppose H.R. 5
so we can create education reform legislation that ensures every
student can realize their goals and dreams.

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