SEN. SUSAN COLLINS

January 27, 2000
		Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins discusses the GOP's stand on education, Medicare and other issues in the first part of the Republican response to the president's State of the Union.

Online Newshour Special Report: The 2000 State of the Union Clinton's Address Part 1 Introduction Part 2 Education and Health Care Part 3 Crime and Guns Part 4 Global Economy and Int'l Relations Part 5 Environment and Technology Part 6 The American Community GOP Response Sen. Collins Education and the Economy Sen. Frist Health Care   White House U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives	Good evening. I'm Susan Collins of Maine. Tonight, Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee and I would like to talk with you about issues that are vital to all of us.
	The Republican agenda
	Our Republican agenda is driven by the simple but powerful truth that America will continue to lead the world as long as our government allows opportunity, initiative, and freedom to flourish. Letting people create what they can dream has transformed our economy. As we reflect on our economic health, we should never forget that America's recent success is, above all, a triumph of values. Americans will never let our country become rich in things and poor in spirit. The achievements of the "dotcom" generation rest on the foundation built by our parents and grandparents. They prevailed through the Depression, defeated the forces of fascism, and made personal freedom the hallmark of countries around the globe. To pay tribute to those great Americans on whose shoulders we stand, we are honor-bound to keep our promise to protect Social Security. Last year, for the first time in thirty-nine years, the federal budget was balanced without dipping into the Social Security trust fund. We'll do it again this year, and we'll pay down even more of the national debt. We've already paid off 150 billion dollars in the last two years. Now, our goal is to eliminate the 3.6 trillion-dollar debt entirely in the next 15 years.
	Taxes and security
	To promote job growth, we'll continue to help our small businesses. That means reducing burdens like the federal "death tax" -- so that when parents work their whole lives to leave their children a family business, it won't have to be sold just to pay the IRS. Taxes, in general, are simply too high. We will continue to fight for tax relief for American families so that they can keep more of what they earn. We'll honor our commitment to our brave men and women in uniform. Last year, the Republican Congress approved the largest increase in military pay in more than a decade. And to protect our country from terrorist nations, we will build a shield against missile attack.
	The promise of Social Security
	As important as all those issues are, there's something else that is vital to securing our future, and that is education. Prior to coming to the Senate, I worked at Husson College in Bangor, Maine. I know first-hand the difference that education can make. We live in a time of unparalleled prosperity. But between Silicon Valley and Wall Street, many Americans still live in the shadows of the new prosperity. New technologies, unimagined a decade ago, provide exciting opportunities for some but pose unsettling challenges to others. As we enter the 21st Century, every young American must be educated to adapt to a changing workplace, and many in our current workforce must be provided with new skills to succeed in the new economy. A good education is the ladder of opportunity. It turns dreams into reality. That's why education is at the top of the Republican agenda. Tonight, I ask the President to join with Republicans in our commitment to bring a good education to all our children. Our Four-Point Plan for Educational Excellence will ensure that all children have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. First, we will continue to increase federal funds for elementary and secondary education. Last year, the Republicans boosted educational spending by 500 million dollars more than the president's budget, and we added funds for children with special needs. Second, rather than Washington dictating to communities how they should run their schools, We should listen to those who know best: our parents, teachers, and local school boards. The debate in Washington is not about money. It is about who makes the decisions. We need a change of approach -- one that recognizes thatt local schools, not Washington offices, are the heart and home of education. We will empower states and communities to use federal education dollars in the ways children need most. I've watched my younger brother Sam serve on the school board in our hometown of Caribou, Maine. He is motivated by the same goal as parents everywhere: to get the world's best education for their children. Doesn't it make sense to have the people who know your children's names decide how best to educate them? Republicans want what all parents want for their children's schools: more federal help but less federal interference. Instead of imposing a "one-size fits all" straitjacket, our plan recognizes that one community may need more math teachers, while another may need better reading programs -- and still others, new computers. It should be your community's decision, not Washington's. In return for that flexibility, the Republican plan requires real accountability -- not more paperwork, but better results. Schools will be held responsible for what is really important -- -improving student achievement. Third, our plan will strengthen teaching excellence. America's teachers need our help. About one-third of our new teachers get so discouraged that they leave the profession. Many are prevented, from doing their very best because they don't have a chance to get enough training in the subject they teach. We will increase federal grants to states and communities and give them the freedom to use that money to better prepare, recruit, and retain good teachers. The lessons are clear -- we must encourage talented people to choose teaching as a career and keep them in the classroom. Fourth, our plan will continue the long-time Republican support for higher education. Last year, we increased Pell grants and student loans to open the doors to college for more low- -and middle-income families. This year, we will increase the amount that families can contribute to education savings accounts to make higher education more affordable. Education today is America's broadband to the future - a powerful conduit for achievement and success. Let us work together to ensure that all Americans have the educational opportunity for a bright future. Now I'd like to call upon my friend and colleague, Dr. Bill Frist, the Senate's only physician.