H.R. 2846 Briefing
National Student Testing bill

Brief Date: 1998, February 8th

SPONSOR: Rep Goodling (introduced 11/06/97)

EDUCATION - Federal Style
National Testing Ban

F a x A l e r t - F e b r u a r y 6 , 1 9 9 8
National Testing Update

One House down; The Senate to Go:

Congratulations for all your efforts. The House voted 242 to 174 on February 5 for Goodling's bill (H.R. 2846) to permanently stop all funding of national testing. 217 Republicans and 25 Democrats voted for Goodling's bill. Many Democrats who voted for us last year voted against us because hey felt the timing of the vote was to premature. Even though we did not get a veto proof vote, we believe that those Democrats who did not vote for us this time may vote for us later, after the bill comes out of conference committee. This would provide the veto majority needed.

The battle now moves to the Senate where Senator Ashcroft's bill is scheduled to be reviewed in early March. Please pray that God will be working in the hearts of each senator to stop national testing.

This Tuesday, we led 50 CAPpers on Capitol Hill and lobbied about 125 Key offices. Our visits indicated that your calls were effective since most Offices admitted they were receiving many calls. The calls, coupled with The CAPpers visits proved to be a very effective lobbying effort. Thanks or your good work!

Broken Promises:
In our last fax alert, we listed over 100 Congressman who called and Promised us they would support Goodling's HR 2846. However, six of those Who pledged their vote went back on their word and voted against the bill. These six Congressman need to hear that their constituents are very Disappointed: Eva Clayton (D-1st-NC) Danny Davis (D-7th-IL) Luis Gutierrez (D-4th-IL) Major Ownes (D-11th-NY) Loretta Sanchez (D-46th-CA) Maxine Waters (D-35th-CA)

The Vote:
Below are the Congressman who voted for Goodling's bill and deserve our gratitude:
[Washington State delegation to Congress only] Dunn, Hastings, Metcalf, Nethercutt, Smith, White.
[from The National Center for Home Education <cap@hslda.org>]

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House Passes Ban on Federal Education Testing

On Thursday, February 5, the House voted 242-174 to permanently ban federal tests for schoolchildren without congressional approval. Rep. Bill Goodling (R-PA) introduced his bill (HR 2846) and House leadership moved quickly for its passage after President Clinton claimed in his State of the Union Address that a national test was forthcoming. Last year the president called for federal reading and math tests in the fourth and eighth grades. Congressional opposition to federal tests temporarily stopped his plan and took authority for the test development out of the Clinton Education Department, instead giving it to the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) for review. The bill soon will be taken up in the Senate.
[Source: Family Research Council’s LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE, Friday, February 6, 1998]

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Federal Education Testing

Now that Congress has returned for legislative business, one of the first bills to be considered by the House will be Rep. Bill Goodling's (R-PA) measure to ban federal education tests without congressional approval (HR 2846). Last year the president called for federal reading and math tests in the fourth and eighth grades, respectively. Ultimately, congressional opposition to federal tests stopped the initial Clinton administration offensive and took authority for the test development out of the hands of the Clinton Education Department, referring the whole plan to the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) for review. During his State of the Union Address on January 27, the president once again stated that federal tests would be implemented. The House Education and Workforce Committee approved, by 23-16, the Goodling legislation. The full House is expected to consider the measure on Feb. 5. Please call your representative and urge him or her to SUPPORT HR 2846 to ban new federal education testing. The Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121.
[Source: Family Research Council’s LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE, Friday, January 30, 1998]

HR 2846 Summary from "Thomas" U.S. government WEB site
National Bill & Issue Watch