Discusses the history and politics of H.R. 3801, an act to provide for the improvement of federal education research, statistics, evaluation, information, and dissemination, focusing on antecedents (the 1994 legislation), consequences of the 1994 election, experience of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, federal education research politics in 2000, accountability, history of the Institute of Education Sciences legislation, Senator Jeffords' work, and the political prognosis. (SM)