Political Quotes

“I wish to thank my colleague from Rhode Island for organizing this colloquy, and the Senator from Montana has been a tireless advocate of opportunity for all the people of the United States and particularly his State. So I am honored to follow my colleague from Montana in this discussion. Claiborne Pell, whose name is on the grant, is an example of how an individual can make a difference in this institution. His contributions have left a legacy not only for himself and the State of Rhode Island but also for the entire country in advancing the cause of higher education and putting it on the map in the American understanding of how critically important it is and how it is evermore important today for the United States to compete in the global economy. It is important for individuals to compete within the United States. It is important for middle-class people to continue to have viable, healthy families. In fact, the Pell grant is important to the economic health and even the viability of our middle class. The failure to fund it and support it will endanger educational opportunities for middle-class Americans across the country. What we know about the modern economy is that more and more, a high school education alone means less and less. High school is vitally important but, economically, it is not enough. That is reflected in an overwhelming--almost an avalanche--of statistics and studies.…”