This program is not only good for the students who get to make the choice with their parents of where they want to go, it is good for the schools and the other students at the schools to which they go.

We wanted this hearing to be fair--a fair and open consideration of the pros and cons of the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program.

I think it raises big hopes in the hearts and minds of the parents and the children who are involved in that program.

It is my hope that the Committee and the Senate will be able to act on your nominations in the near future.

The D.C. OSP has met a tough standard for efficacy in serving low-income, inner-city students.

Remember, our children are our future, and without this proper education, what type of future will we have?

Your story is really not just evidence of the impact of the program, but it is an inspirational story.

I would not want my child in a school that was unsafe because how could the child learn in an unsafe environment?

the partial report we have is encouraging.

I still support the elevation of this position and hope to take up legislation that attempts to do so again this year.

There is no question that we have failed as a country to describe what risk we are willing to accept.

The 9/11 Commission said that one of the causes of September 11, 2001, was a failure of imagination.

We happen to have the facts on our side. We also happen to have justice on our side.

I have opposed many voucher programs because they did take money from public schools, but that is not the case here.

I would agree with Senator Voinovich. I would say that at a very minimum, we allow the program to continue and evaluate it on its original terms before we stop it, undermine it, short circuit it, and claim it is a failure.

the agreement resulted in more money for D.C.'s public schools, for the traditional schools, and for the public charter schools, as well as for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships.

the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program has become an issue around which there is a great national debate.

I applaud, as this Committee does, the work of my successor, Mayor Adrian Fenty, and our chancellor, Michelle Rhee, in giving unprecedented authority to the D.C. public school administration to act boldly, urgently, and aggressively.

It is because, first, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has historically had jurisdiction over matters related to the District of Columbia.

I say that with regret, because I wanted to hear both sides.

I find the sum total of this evidence to be very powerfully in favor of continuing the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.

Now, thank God, we have gone 8 years, and we have not suffered another attack on our territory, so that hopefully means that we have done some good risk assessment or we have sent messages out that have deterred our enemies.

I must say, I am impressed by your ability to respond to the questions in some detail after having been on the job for just over 100 days.

The President indicated at one point a few weeks ago that he would be asking for $1.5 billion to deal with this potential flu outbreak and potential epidemic or pandemic.

I agree totally with you about that.