Ken Lucas

Mr. LUCAS of Kentucky

Mr. LUCAS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, as the former chairman of the Northern Kentucky University Board of Regents, I believe that all too often education decisions are made at the Federal level by bureaucrats who have little knowledge of the needs of the school at the local level, leaving teachers, principals, and local school boards with their hands tied. That is why I support the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999. The expansion of Ed-Flex allows the Secretary of Education to delegate to States the authority to waive Federal regulation requirements that interfere with the schools' ability to educate our children. The proposed legislation makes many programs eligible for waivers. The bill will help do away with many burdensome Federal regulations, giving more decision-making power to the local level. Our schools must have the flexibility to tailor specific solutions to specific problems. Local school boards understand local needs best.

Mr. LUCAS of Kentucky

Mr. LUCAS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule. I rise in support of H.R. 436, the Government Waste, Fraud and Error Reduction Act of 1999. The goal of this legislation is to help reduce waste in government programs by improving Federal management of debt and collection practices, payment systems and benefit programs. Like many Kentucky taxpayers, I consider this to be a very worthy goal. Mr. Speaker, this legislation would give Federal agencies additional tools to improve government efficiency and accountability. Agencies would be able to bar delinquent debtors from obtaining certain Federal benefits until the debt is repaid. Agencies would be able to use private debt collection contractors to maximize the collection of overdue nontax debts, and agencies would be required to establish programs to reduce the nontax debts held by the agency and obtain the maximum value for loan and debt assets. In addition, H.R. 436 would help the collection of child support by allowing the offset of Social Security benefits to a recipient who owes past-due support to the State. People who work hard and play by the rules should not have to pick up the tab for deadbeat dads and others who will not pay their debts. As individuals, we are expected to pay our debts. As a Nation, we expect efficiency and accountability from the agencies that have been created to serve us. It is important to give those agencies the tools to do the job that we require of them. Therefore, I urge passage of H.R. 436.