Chris Dodd

By the way, let me correct myself. Earlier I mentioned the afterschool programs, and my staff very properly reminded me here that, first of all, they increased the funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

When we talk about a more compassionate America, nowhere is that more evident than in our caregiving leave policies. No one should have to choose between work and family.

We must all do better. And that's why we must continue to work together in a bipartisan way to reauthorize and improve ESEA as soon as possible.

I would be remiss if I did not point out, by the way, that you always take great pride in your sort of official family.

But again, the low-birth rate among nonHispanic African-Americans over the past 15 years has remained about twice that of nonHispanic Caucasian women.

I have had hearings on the obesity issue. Senator Harkin has been a champion in talking about the quality of food and nutrition.

I cannot begin to tell you what a sense of confidence and comfort it is to know that there are people like Bob Casey and Jeff Merkley who are going to be here.

We think the way to do that is to allow States to innovate in this space and for us to provide them with incentives to do that.

But I do not want you to give up hope on paid leave. Let me just say you have been a critical leader on this.

I think we had 3,000 a day--3,500 children under the age of 18 start smoking for the first time every day.

A recent report issued at the end of June by the Congressional Budget Office highlighted the fact that income inequality has tripled in the last 30 years to levels not seen since 1928 in our country.

I commend and thank Senator Christopher Dodd for his untiring and successful efforts on behalf of America's children.

I can only hope that the appropriate funds can be made available to service, effectively, all of Connecticut's juvenile delinquent children.

Senator Dodd's vision of a national body on children is a far-reaching, life saving initiative.

I thoroughly support Senator Dodd's proposal to initiate a U.S. Commission on Children and America's Young People.

We are going to face, as we look at the arguments again, significant cost reductions in a lot of these areas...

One of the things we did in the healthcare bill is just expand tremendously the number of resources to expand community health services.

I cannot convey my depth of gratitude to Senator Dodd for his decades of enlightened leadership on behalf of children.

How you take that program nationally could be very important.

Connecticut is one of only two States in the country that spends more on corrections than on higher education.

It is labor-intensive.

But so much of the most vulnerable kids and families just don't even know how to navigate this at all.

So, again, it takes someone to step up and to seek to be enrolled.

I am always struck with the fact--and again, on the Lighthouse Program, which we have worked very closely with over the years, and I am a great supporter of it.

I can see that already having a positive impact on the children in that classroom and the parents.