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Press Room: Press Releases

January 23, 2001

Reaction by Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) on President Bush's Education Plan

"I appreciate and agree with President Bush’s commitment to make education a top priority. I support new investments in education and making literacy a priority especially in the early grades. And, everyone should agree that accountability is essential for education.

"But I do have serious questions about whether all of the provisions in the Bush education package meet his goals and principles.

"For example, I know that President Bush’s proposal to convert the E-Rate into a block grant program with other Department of Education technology programs would be a grave mistake. This would be a major step backwards, and I will fight it aggressively.

"The E-Rate is a successful, bipartisan program that offers discounts to schools and libraries for telecommunications, Internet access, and connecting classrooms to the Information Superhighway. Currently, the E-Rate programs serves all schools – public, private and parochial. The program is targeted to poor schools and rural schools. Each school gets to apply for the telecommunications services they want and need. Under the Bush block grant approach, local schools would have less flexibility, not more. Under the Bush block grant, private and parochial schools would have to negotiate with State education agencies and worry about entanglements of federal regulations. Most importantly, the secure funding for the E-Rate and investments in technology would be jeopardized.

"The E-Rate is part of universal service, and it was part of the "deal" in the 1996 Telecommunications Act. The telecommunications companies wanted more competition and the ability to expand. In exchange, we insisted on a strong, continued commitment by the telecommunication companies to "preserve and advance" universal service, including access to advanced telecommunications services for schools, rural health care providers and libraries."