Barbara Boxer: “Again, I say to my friend, this is a moment, an opportunity for us. We have an education bill before the U.S. Senate.…”

“Again, I say to my friend, this is a moment, an opportunity for us. We have an education bill before the U.S. Senate. Why would we wait to put more teachers in the classroom? Why would we wait on afterschool programs when, in fact, it is so necessary? Throughout America, people are asking us to act. If you go to the community and say, well, we are waiting for a different vehicle to come before the Senate before we address after school programs, they will look at you and say, wait a minute, we need these funds now. Our kids are getting into trouble after school. We have an opportunity, with a good bill that Senator Wyden has brought to us and Senator Frist, to make it even better. I urge my colleagues, please vote in favor of this amendment for afterschool programs.”