CONGRESS WORKING TO IMPROVE EDUCATION
From U.S. Representative John Tanner:
CONGRESS WORKING TO IMPROVE EDUCATION
WASHINGTON - As students, parents and teachers look toward the summer break, Congress has been working on some matters that will affect schools in Tennessee and across our country for future school years. I hope to take this chance to tell you about the education issues we have been working on in Washington.
Education Budget. The House version of the 2008 budget, still pending, will restore funding for cuts President Bush had recommended to education programs, including Head Start and job training. We will continue to push for full support of the programs that help our students prepare for college and the workforce.
Head Start. The Improving Head Start Act of 2007, which recently passed the House with my support, reauthorizes this important, pre-K program and expands the criteria to help even more children. The bill calls for grants to be awarded to the highest performing Head Start institutions, including faith-based and community-based organizations.
Teacher Tax Relief. I am a lead sponsor of this bill, which will help teachers make up for the costs they often have to spend out of their own pockets to buy supplies and educational tools for their classrooms. Teachers can currently deduct up to $250 they pay for such items as books, flash cards and crayons, but that provision expires at the end of this year. We want to restore that tax credit but expand it to $400 to make sure our teachers have everything they need to help our students be successful.
Student Loans. As one of its first actions this year, the House of Representatives, with my support, voted to cut student loan interest rates in half over the next four years. We also approved the Student Loan Sunshine Act, which will clean up the relationship between student lenders and colleges, after recent reports that some lenders may be taking advantage of students and parents.
Math and Science Education. Two bills passed by the House will offer scholarships to encourage more students to become math and science teachers. With these bills, we also voted to recruit and train science, math and engineering professionals who want to move their skills into their classrooms to become teachers.
Music Education. I co-sponsored a bipartisan resolution that passed the House unanimously, affirming the importance of music education in a well-rounded school curriculum. The resolution notes that learning music helps develop 21st century workplace skills like critical thinking, creative problem-solving, effective communication and teamwork; keeps students involved in school and more likely to graduate; and helps students excel in other subjects, like math, science and reading.
Residential Education. I was very honored and humbled to be named Policymaker of the Year by C.O.R.E., the Coalition for Residential Education, which includes Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes. We had worked together recently to ensure residential education facilities can serve as foster homes for children who are between homes.
Congratulating Student Athletes. I co-sponsored a resolution from the House Education and Labor Committee that congratulates the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers on their NCAA championship, which passed the House of Representatives unanimously. As I stated in The Congressional Record, we were all proud to watch these outstanding student athletes earn their victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to win their 7th NCAA championship in 20 years. The resolution also congratulated Head Coach Pat Summitt, her coaching staff and all UT’s student athletes for their dedication and teamwork.
We want to thank all the students, teachers and parents who helped make 2006-2007 a successful school year, and I hope everyone will have an enjoyable and safe summer.
Congressman Tanner represents Tennessee’s 8th Congressional district in west and middle Tennessee. He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and as chairman of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
