mr. rokita: i yield three minutes to the gentleman from pennsylvania. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. mr. thompson: thank you, mr. chairman. mr. speaker, thank you. i want to thank my colleague from indiana for his leadership in this bill and i want to thank my colleague from new york, representative mccarthy, for her leadership on this bill. one of the most important assets that we have in education really is our teachers, but our teachers need proven tools. that's what we're here today, this bill is about making sure that we were providing best practices database tools in terms of teaching methods. the strengthening education through research act seeks to bolster one of our most fundamental educational priority, improving outcomes and raising student achievement, mr. speaker. in 2002, congress passed the education and science reform act,est tablying the institute of education sciences which is responsible for gathering data on educational best practices in the nation's schools. the intent of the law was to enable

mr. rokita: mr. speaker, i rise today in support of the strengthening education through research act, legislation to improve the quality and usefulness of education research. mr. speaker, more than a decade ago congress approved the education sciences reform act, that was legislation that established the institute of education sciences to gather information on education progress, conduct research on education practices in schools, and evaluate the effectiveness of federal education programs and initiatives. like many of my colleagues, i believeed the federal government's role -- i believe the federal government's role in education needs to be significantly reduced. that's why we passed the student success act last summer. comprehensive education reform legislation that will actually shrink the federal footprint in the classroom and return control to the parents, the teachers and community leaders who in fact know our children bet et -- best. i would challenge anyone here on the floor to say that any

mr. rokita. >> i think the gentleman for your testimony today. i think from what i heard judge starr as he would being a former judge really clarified the issue and that is are we going to use the nl ra as a vehicle for the improvements that you have all talked about today? i can imagine the authors of the law whatever the intent of congress was to cover this situation. let's explore a little bit. mr. livingstone if the students were to strike or the athletic department or university were to lock the players out like you have that a steel mill let's say during the collective bargaining process with the students be able to attend class? >> that's an unanswered question. the only experience we really have is a professional sports the entire league that typically goes on strike or is locked out. >> and professional sports. >> in college because we don't have it. >> in college you have classes. >> the what they have to vacate or leave class or start playing playing -- paying for? >> certainly unanswered by law or regulations or anything else. mr. mui

mr. rokita: i thank the gentleman from illinois and the gentlelady from tennessee for allowing me to help write this important amendment. the president's unilateral handoff of key internet functions to a multistakeholder community without the consent of congress lacks a clear plan for how and what that community would look like and what authority it would have. now we can debate later whether congress would actually ever give such consent, but for now we are offering this amendment because americans deserve to know that due diligence has occurred and that a clear plan exists for such matters. america has proven throughout history that we are freedom and we have an obligation to protect the internet. it is an unsurpassed vehicle for the free exchange of ideas. more than just freedom but about american interests. it is a single great economic machine and perhaps ever and its full potential has yet to be realized. this is a shining example of american exceptionalism. it is not in our interests to relinquish without protecting american freedom and interests and against the interests of indivi