Name:	Your Grade	Comments
Bill writing committee- 50 points A  Took a major part in research and writing of the bill; significant role in sponsoring speech     45-50 B. Either helped write of did research    40-44 C. Made little substantive contribution.  0- 39
Senate Debate- 50 points Spoke at least twice, presented argument clearly, and substantiated position well.  45-50 Spoke at least once, with only modest documentation of argument.  40-44 Spoke at least once; did not substantiate arguments. 0-39
Sponsorship Speech – 25 points Argument is presented clearly and substantiated position well         23-25 Argument with only modest documentation of argument        20 - 22 No evidence and arguments are weak  0-19
Presidential Signature 5 points If bill passes Senate vote and President approves the bill  plus 5

SENATE BILL

SUMMARY AS OF:
1/7/2003--Introduced.

Educational Excellence for All Learners Act of 2003 - Expresses the sense of the Senate that the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 should be fully funded.

Directs the Secretary of Education to make annual determinations as to whether each State's public school system provides all its students with educational resources to succeed academically and in life. Requires such education to enable students to: (1) acquire knowledge and skills necessary for responsible citizenship; (2) meet challenging academic achievement standards; and (3) compete and succeed in a global economy. Specifies what each system must provide.

Expresses the sense of the Senate that an individual Pell Grant's maximum amount should be: (1) increased to $4,500; and (2) the amount eligible students receive. Makes appropriations for an emergency additional amount for FY 2003, available through FY 2004, for the Pell Grant program.

WHY?

S.8

Educational Excellence for All Learners Act of 2003 (Introduced in Senate)

TITLE I--FUNDING EDUCATION REFORM

SEC. 101. SENSE OF THE SENATE.

(a) FINDINGS- The Senate finds the following:

(1) Congress enacted, with bipartisan support, and the President signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, that reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.). The new law required States to set high standards for learning and required schools to implement reforms to help improve student achievement. In return, Congress and the President pledged to make sure schools would have resources to carry out the reforms as called for in the new law.

(2) $9,000,000,000 in additional resources are needed to fully fund the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) in fiscal year 2003.

(3) The Administration's budget request for fiscal year 2003 cut funding for programs in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) by $90,000,000, meaning schools would have fewer resources to implement the new law.

(4) The Administration's budget request for fiscal year 2003 provides insufficient resources to help communities modernize schools and address overcrowding.

(5) Because of declining revenues due to the economic recession and stock market declines, many States are being forced to cut back support for public schools.

(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE- It is the sense of the Senate that--

(1) it is in the best interest of the Nation that all students have access to a high quality elementary and secondary education; and

(2) the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 should be fully funded.

HOW MUCH?

Subtitle A--Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

SEC. 111. INCREASE IN AUTHORIZATION.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended--

(1) in section 1002--

(A) in subsection (a), by striking paragraphs (3) through (6) and inserting the following:

`(3) $18,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;

`(4) $21,612,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;

`(5) $24,724,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;

`(6) $27,837,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;

`(7) $30,949,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;

`(8) $34,061,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;

`(9) $37,173,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;

`(10) $40,286,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;

`(11) $43,398,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and

`(12) $46,510,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.'; and

(a) GRANTS TO STATES, LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES, AND ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIPS- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part (other than subpart 5) $3,175,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003, $3,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.';

WHERE DO WE GET THE MONEY?

`SEC. 4003. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

`There are authorized to be appropriated--

`(1) $650,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003, $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year, for State grants under subpart 1; and

`(2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2002 and 2003, $225,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year, for national programs under subpart 2.';

(7) by striking section 4206 and inserting the following:

`SEC. 4206. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

`There are authorized to be appropriated $1,250,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, $1,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, $2,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.'; and

(8) in section 6234, by striking `2002 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years,' and inserting `2002, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003, $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year,'.

EVIDENCE

STUDY

(a) STUDY- The Commissioner for Education Statistics, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of the Treasury, and the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, shall conduct a comprehensive study concerning the effects on economic growth and productivity of ensuring that each State public school system meets the requirements of section 135(a). Such study shall include assessments of--

(1) the economic costs to the Nation resulting from the maintenance by States of public school systems that do not meet the requirements of section 135(a);

(2) the economic gains to be expected from States' compliance with the requirements of section 135(a); and

(3) the costs, if any, of ensuring that each State maintains a public school system that meets the requirements of section 135(a).

(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subtitle, the Commissioner for Education Statistics shall submit to Congress a final report detailing the results of the study required under subsection (a).

SEC. 172. EFFECTS ON NATIONAL DEFENSE.

(a) STUDY- The Commissioner for Education Statistics, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall conduct a comprehensive study concerning the effects on national defense of ensuring that each State public school system meets the requirements of section 135(a). Such study shall include assessments of--

(1) the detriments to national defense resulting from the maintenance by States of public school systems that do not meet the requirements of section 135(a), including the effects on--

(A) knowledge and skills necessary for the effective functioning of the Armed Forces;

(B) the costs to the Armed Forces of training; and

(C) efficiency resulting from the use of sophisticated equipment and information technology; and

(2) the gains to national defense to be expected from ensuring that each State public school system meets the requirements of section 135(a).

(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subtitle, the Commissioner for Education Statistics shall submit to Congress a final report detailing the results of the study required under subsection

Writing a Bill

Your bill should fit within your platform and the planks within.  Write a one page bill that explains in detail your proposed law.  Be sure the idea is one, which could gain wide support.  Do not write bills that are unrealistic or for shock value.  Take time in crafting a bill that you feel is on an important issue for the American people.  Remember that government exists to

q       Establish justice

q       Insure domestic tranquility

q       Provide for the common defense

q       Promote the general welfare

q       Secure the blessings of liberty by protecting the life, liberty, property, and pursuit of happiness for all Americans.

1.      Name your bill

2.      Give a one to three paragraph description of your bill, DO NOT put feelings into the bill, keep it focused on what it will do.

§         What does it cover?

§         Who does this effect?

§         How does it affect them?

§         Where is this to be carried out? (Urban areas, The south, New England, The entire country, national parks…)

§         Who will carry it out? (Department of the Interior, FBI, National Park Service…)

3.      Budget

§         How much will it cost?

§         Where will we get the money?