Political Quotes

“This week, the House takes the next step toward the enactment of H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, our best effort to navigate the philosophical differences between our parties and realize our shared vision of a better future for all children. Prior to 1965, many poor and minority students were denied access to a quality education. In effect, this country had a two-tiered educational system, one with low expectations for poor and minority students and high expectations for others. Then Washington got involved. Now, after 35 years and more than $130 billion of well-intentioned Washington spending, we have yet to close the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their more affluent peers. We have allowed ourselves to believe that some children are simply beyond our reach. As a result, this Nation has suffered. Today, with the consideration of H.R. 1, we have rededicated ourselves to the notion that all children can learn, and we begin the reforms to ensure that no child is limited by a high school education that does not provide him or her with the necessary skills to read and write well.”