Barbara Boxer: “All we are saying in this amendment is, fund the programs you just voted to fund. It is as simple as that. And just so…”

“All we are saying in this amendment is, fund the programs you just voted to fund. It is as simple as that. And just so everybody understands it, I will explain it one more time. In every program that we put forward in the Federal Government, no matter what it is, you basically have an authorization, which is the nod. It says to the appropriators: It is OK to fund the military up to this amount; it is OK to fund education up to this amount, highways up to this amount. That is the authorization. The next step that makes it all a reality is the funding, the actual funding of those programs. That is called appropriations. So the Schumer-Boxer amendment simply says--and I am going to say it in his words because they come from the heart and soul of Brooklyn, NY--put your money where your mouth is. Everyone understands what that means. We can all give the greatest speeches coming out of our mouths--golden words, beautiful words. What does it mean if you do not back it up with reality, with substance, and, in this case, with funding? It doesn't mean anything for amendments to pass and then not to fund them. I guess the senatorial way to say it would be, fulfill your commitments that you made on this ESEA bill.”