Political Quotes

“briefly, I had printed in the Record letters in support of my afterschool amendment, letters from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, from 1,000 chiefs of police, prosecutors, crime survivors, and police organizations. Their letters are strong letters in terms of the value of afterschool programs. Seventy percent of the chiefs of police have said the best method for reducing the problems of afterschool violence is a good afterschool program. There have been almost 3,000 applications for 21st century learning centers since the concept was introduced a number of years ago. It has been the largest single request from local communities and community-based organizations in the history of the Department of Education. My point is simply this. I am willing to support, and I support the Straight A's block grant program. I want to take out, however, the 5.7 percent of funding--that is all it amounts to--for afterschool programs. That program ought not end up subject to the vagaries of what happens to a State education agency. We ought to let local communities decide whether or not they want an afterschool program.”