Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Reauthorization Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. I thank the gentlewoman from D.C.
Mr. Chair, it is extremely unfortunate that we are here yet again
debating legislation that would interfere with the ability of D.C.
residents to make decisions for themselves. So far this Congress, the
House has attempted to block laws that would protect District women's
reproductive rights and reform Washington's drug laws. And now we are
asked to continue a failed private school voucher program, a program
that a majority of the D.C. Council opposes and on which they are not
even consulted, a program that D.C.'s own longtime Congresswoman
opposes.

I am shocked at the arrogance of this body to set aside the will of
the citizens of the District of Columbia so fleetingly. It is
disgraceful that in this building, a symbol of our democracy, we impose
such policies on a city that does not even get a vote on these
decisions.

Additionally, I oppose this bill because it weakens D.C.'s public
school system. Instead of taking public dollars to outsource our
children's education to private schools, we should be focusing on truly
reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. We need an
updated ESEA that strengthens public schools for all our children and
prepares students for the globally competitive world we live in.

Education should be the great equalizer, and every student should
have access to the best education, regardless of their ZIP Code or
their socioeconomic status. There are public schools in this country
that are among the very best in the world. I am proud that several of
them are in my district.

Mr. Chair, we know that public schools can work when we properly
support them; but, unfortunately, for certain communities, far too many
schools continue to struggle due to lack of resources on one hand and
relentless attempts to undermine them on the other. Private vouchers
only further perpetuate these inequities by siphoning additional
resources for few students while leaving the rest behind in underfunded
public schools.

In our global economy, it is more essential than ever that every
child receives a quality education. To do that, our public schools need
adequate resources. Diverting public money to private and parochial
schools only worsens the problem.

I support access to a world-class public education for all students;
but too often, the majority in this body undercut that goal, whether
through the so-called Student Success Act that leaves students in a
lurch or today's SOAR bill that sorely misses the point.

I urge my colleagues to listen to the people of the District of
Columbia and their elected representative, Ms. Norton. Most
importantly, listen to the teachers and the parents who oppose this
bill, and reject this legislation.

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