Mr. Speaker, I rise today to explain the effects on our states of the Administration's cuts to the No Child Left Behind Act. The $20 Billion in education cuts could not come at a worse time as states scramble to close budget gaps and schools struggle to comply with the rigorous new law.

Across America, desperate measures are being taken. In Alabama, schools are being forced to raise class sizes. In Florida, two-thirds of the pre-K programs have been terminated. In Idaho, parents must raise money for teacher salaries through bake sales and auctions. In Illinois, they have layed off thousands of teachers and staff and increased class sizes in some schools to nearly 40 students. Detroit plans to close 16 schools this month. In South Carolina, 2,000 teachers have been let go and class sizes are up to 35 students.

This is just a sample of the consequences of the failure of the federal government to make good on its promises. That's why I introduced H.R. 2366, the Fully Fund the No Child Left Behind Act. Before we ask our schools to hold bake sales and our states to live with budget cuts, Congress should honor its commitment to our students.

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