On the Issues:
Education and our Children
Mark Foley: Committed to Protecting our Children and Improving our Schools
The Mark Foley Record:
Voted for the No Child Left Behind Act -- a bi-partisan effort to bring accountability and flexibility to our public education programs. It grants new flexibility to local school districts, demands results in public education through strict accountability measures, empowers parents and provides a safety valve for children trapped in failing schools.
Authored and passed into law a resolution recognizing the upcoming 100th anniversary of the 4-H Youth Development Program. This resolution commends the 4-H program for its service to the youth of the world.
Cosponsored House Resolution 335 to honor the contributions of Catholic Schools.
Cosponsored legislation to expand the Hope Scholarship Tax credit to cover required fees, books, supplies and equipment. It provides more students with the financial help they need to attend college.
Cosponsored a bill to urge the establishment of a commission on technology and education.
Supported a $1 billion increase to help states and local communities pay for special education.
Voted to provide $2.85 billion, $250 million above the budget request, for a new program to provide states and school districts with tools to improve teacher quality and increase the number of highly qualified teachers in the classroom.
Voted for the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act. It gives the Education Secretary the authority to grant waivers to military reservists who have been called up for active duty, relieving them from making federal student loan payments while they serve the nation's Armed Forces.
Authored and passed into law the Volunteers for Children Act. This law allows youth organizations to have access to the FBI's database for criminal background checks on volunteers.
Voted to increase funding for student financial aid in 2000 to $9.4 billion. This legislation also increased the maximum Pell Grant to $3,300 annually.
Successfully amended the Higher Education Programs Authorization Act in 1998 to eliminate a federal ban on notifying a campus community when a student commits a violent campus, or off campus, crime -- an amendment that helps students and parents know which colleges and universities are safe and which students have committed violence.
Secured $100,000 for the Boys and Girls Club in St. Lucie County.
Voted for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act -- providing $10 million for low-income and educationally disadvantaged children and serves nearly 11 million students.
Voted to increase funding for special education programs to $6 billion in 2000 -- an 18% increase from last year.
Voted for programs to train and hire additional teachers and reduce class size in our children's schools. The bill provided approximately $2 billion per year, over five years.
Voted to provide $605 billion for the Safe and Drug-Free School Programs.
Cosponsored a bill (HR 531) to increase tax credits for adoption expenses and permanently extends tax credits to families.
Voted to create tougher sentences for crimes against children and to enhance the FBI's ability to assist state and local authorities in murder cases involving children.
Cosponsored legislation (HR 3204) to tighten the Safe and Drug-Free School Act to prevent child abuse and abduction.
Voted to authorize $10 million grants each year from 2000-2003 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Cosponsored (HR 1307) to provide grants to improve the availability and quality of after-school programs.
Cosponsored legislation (HR 1494) to provide more money to the classroom.
Cosponsored a bill (HR 2308) to expand deductions for donating computers to schools and libraries.
Supported Education Flexibility to allow local school districts greater flexibility in spending federal dollars to improve student achievement.
Helped found the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus which works closely with law enforcement officials and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on legislation to protect children from child molestation and abuse.
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