Burgess Introduces Amendment to Provide $830 Million to Texas Education

“This money should have never been denied when the original bill passed, and it is a shame that Mr. Doggett put education funding at risk.”

Washington, D.C. – Early this morning the amendment Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) entered into the Continuing Resolution (CR) that would provide $830 million to Texas education passed with a vote of 235 to 187.

“The schoolchildren and teachers in Texas will finally have the opportunity to receive the $830 million they should have had in the first place,” said Dr. Burgess. “This money should have never been denied when the original bill passed, and it is a shame that Mr. Doggett put education funding at risk.”

Last August, Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-25), included an amendment in the state jobs bailout bill, H.R. 1586, that required the state of Texas, during the fiscal years 2011 to 2013 to maintain state support for elementary and secondary education at a level is that equal to or greater than the percentage provided for fiscal year 2011. That provision placed requirements on Texas beyond what all other states were required to make in order to qualify for funding and violated the Texas Constitution.

To remedy this situation, Dr. Burgess introduced H.R. 532 earlier this month; however, because the $830 million must be delivered to Texas before the fiscal year ends at the end of September, it was included in the CR to ensure that Texas received the funding that was senselessly denied.

“At a time when school budgets are hurting, we should not prevent our children and teachers from receiving their share of available funding,” said Dr. Burgess. “Now that this has passed the House, Texas is one step closer to receiving funding they should have never had to jump through hoops to get. We are one step closer to ending a senseless war on Texas schoolchildren.”

The CR will now move to the Senate for debate and a vote.

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