Barbara Boxer: “I want to take this time to thank Senators Alexander and Murray on the bill that is before our body, the Every Child…”

“I want to take this time to thank Senators Alexander and Murray on the bill that is before our body, the Every Child Achieves Act. It is so important that we focus on this area of education. Two important provisions I asked to be included have been included in the bill. I want to specifically talk about those and again thank both Senators for including those important initiatives in this important bill. One of them is the reauthorization of afterschool programs--something I have worked on my entire life in Congress. It goes back a very long time. Another one is on e-cigarettes, which I believe are endangering our Nation's youth. Senator Murkowski was very instrumental in the committee, working with Senator Murray to make sure my bipartisan After School for America's Children Act was incorporated in the bill. I thank her. In the Senate, I first introduced my afterschool bill in 1997. I worked with Senator Ensign at that time. The Federal Government at that time only funded small afterschool pilot programs. When we got to 2001, I saw an opportunity to take that pilot program and turn it into a real, funded authorization for afterschool programs. The bill we have on the floor today and next week will modernize that afterschool program. It is the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program, which incorporates afterschool. It will help States support quality afterschool programs.…”