GOP lawmaker: Bring education bill back to House floor

A freshman Republican called for another shot at passing an education reform bill on Wednesday months after House GOP leaders abruptly yanked it from the floor.

Rep. Ryan Costello (R-Pa.) took to the House floor to call for a vote on the measure.

“We need to continue our work on this bill,” Costello said. “We owe it to our colleagues who have worked for months on the bill and underlying policy.”

{mosads}House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) indicated in a memo that the measure may return to the floor this month, but didn’t specify a date. The bill, which would reauthorize and overhaul the No Child Left Behind law, gives states more authority over education policy.

House GOP leaders pulled the bill from consideration on the same day as a measure funding the Department of Homeland Security faltered. Two influential conservative groups, Heritage Action and the Club for Growth, whipped up opposition among lawmakers to deprive the legislation of the votes to pass.

At the time, conservatives were frustrated that GOP leaders didn’t allow votes on amendments allowing states to opt out of No Child Left Behind and eliminate federal testing requirements.

Costello implored lawmakers to at least consider legislation that offers a change from current education law.

“For those of my colleagues who may be undecided on advancing this bill and reauthorizing the ESEA, I ask you to consider, are you happy with the status quo? Are you content to sit on the sidelines while Common Core standards and a myriad of tests are imposed on our students?” Costello asked.