Organizing for America

Clintons Rewrite History on No Child Left Behind

Bill Clinton Said That Hillary Voted For No Child Left Behind Knowing That It Would Not Work And Was "Going To Be A Disaster." Bill Clinton: "No Child Left Behind, I remember when Hillary was facing this impossible vote, she said 'Bill this is not going to work, this is going to be a disaster.' And she said 'it's obvious to me they hadn't talked to any principals and teachers or they never wouldn't have done this.' And yet it had the support of everybody from President Bush to Senator Kennedy and everyone in between." [WJC, Huntsville, AL, 2/2/08]

CLINTON VOTED FOR NCLB AND SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF IT ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE

Clinton Voted For No Child Left Behind. In 2001, Clinton said she was "happy" to vote for No Child Left Behind. [Vote 371, (Adopted (thus cleared for the president) 87-10: R 44-3; D 43-6; I 0-1), HR 1, 12/18/01]

Clinton, On NCLB's Passage: It "In Many Respects Increase[s] The Opportunities That Our Students Will Have For Achieving The Kind Of Education Levels For Which Every Child Deserves To Strive. We Know This Bill Is Far From Perfect. However, We Do Know We Have Made A Step Forward... I Am Glad We Have Taken This Step Forward." Clinton, on passage of the conference report for No Child Left Behind, said "I thank our chairman for his extraordinary work. I also appreciate the leadership of our ranking member and indeed the entire committee that has worked so hard for nearly a year and has finished the work in a conference that has resulted in a bill which will in many respects increase the opportunities that our students will have for achieving the kind of educational levels for which every child deserves to strive. We know this bill is far from perfect. However, we do know we have made a step forward...I am glad we have taken this step forward. I hope my colleagues will continue to support education for every child." [Congressional Record, 12/18/01]

Clinton Worked For Passage Of NCLB As A Member Of The Senate HELP Committee And Called The NCLB Bill "Landmark Legislation [That] Sends A Clear Message That All American Children Deserve A World Class Education." Senator Clinton worked for passage of the legislation as a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and as a participant in the House-Senate Conference Committee, which finalized its work on the bill last week. The bipartisan bill, called the "Leave No Child Behind Act," includes provisions authored by Senator Clinton to promote the recruitment of high quality teachers and principals for schools in New York and throughout the country. "Passing this landmark legislation sends a clear message that all American children deserve a world class education," Senator Clinton said. [Senator Clinton press release, 12/18/01]

Senate HELP Committee Reported Favorably On S. 1 And Recommended That The Bill Pass; The Committee Report Said They "Built A Foundation Out From That Cornerstone That Embraces The Principles Of The President's [NCLB] Proposal" And Was Signed By Hillary Clinton. The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, having had under consideration an original bill (S. 1) to extend programs and activities under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes, reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass... President George W. Bush has aptly described tolerance of the status quo as `the soft bigotry of low expectations.' His blueprint for education reform, No Child Left Behind, outlines a fundamental reform of ESEA that would: increase accountability for student performance, focus on what works, reduce bureaucracy and increase flexibility, and empower parents with more information and choices when schools fail. President Bush has promised that, `Bipartisan education reform will be the cornerstone of my Administration.' The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions has built a foundation out from that cornerstone that embraces the principles of the President's proposal. The Committee bill represents important progress in strengthening and improving public schools in every community. This progress includes a strong federal helping hand, accountability for results, targeting to the neediest communities, and a clear focus on priority areas of national need. The nation's children deserve no less. Edward M. Kennedy, Tom Harkin, Jeff Bingaman, Patty Murray, John Edwards, Christopher J. Dodd, Barbara A. Mikulski, Paul D. Wellstone, Jack Reed, Hillary Clinton. [S 1, Report of the Committee on HELP,3/28/01]