We have to fix education, we have to fix the economy, we have got to fulfill the promise we made to these kids.

I was co-chairman of the Budget Committee in the North Carolina State Senate, when the early-colleges legislation came forward.

So, what do we need to do?

With 70 early-college high schools in North Carolina, I'm proud to be a cosponsor of the Fast Track to College Act.

To allow this to happen for 30 percent of our high school students is unconscionable.

If this were a disease, we'd call it an epidemic, and we'd do whatever we needed to, to fix it.

Mr. Chairman, I think this bill as it is crafted is not the right way to go for the people of Puerto Rico. I don't have a dog in this fight. I have not taken a position on whether they should have statehood or not have statehood, but I…

Mr. Chairman, again, I want to say that I think the Congress of the United States is being used unfairly in this process. We do not need to be doing this. What the proponents of statehood are doing is rigging the process in favor of a vote…

Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlelady from the Virgin Islands for the purposes of a unanimous consent request. (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, my colleague says this bill has been carefully crafted. Yes, it's been carefully crafted to keep the people who want the present status from being a choice. That is wrong. That should not be the way this bill is done. If they…

Could I inquire, Mr. Chairman, as to how much time I have left. The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from North Carolina has 2\1/2\ minutes remaining.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk. The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Amendment No. 1 offered by Ms. Foxx: Page 4, line 5, strike ``3'' and insert ``4''. Page 4, after…

Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield 15 seconds to the gentlelady from New York (Ms. Velazquez).

Mr. Chairman, can I inquire again as to how much time is left on my side. The CHAIR. The gentlewoman has 1\1/2\ minutes remaining.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. After being engaged in the spirited debate surrounding this bill, I am pleased to report that both supporters and opponents of the underlying bill, regardless of partisanship, can…

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/4\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez).

I thank my colleague from New York for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned that the underlying bill we have before us today is being brought forward under a structured rule, adding to the record number of structured and closed…

I appreciate the comments of the gentlewoman from New York. Mr. Speaker, I do realize that the bill passed out of committee unanimously, and I am sure it is going to receive strong support on the floor. Yet we know that providing…