Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by asking my Republican colleagues one simple question: Don't you have constituents who get sick and need insurance? Everyone gets sick, rich and poor, Black and White, men, women, and children. Having…

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 140.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 83. ____________________

As the richest country on earth, we have the resources to ensure that all students have access to multiple, high-quality higher education opportunities.

I know how difficult it can be to afford to go to college. That is why I support Pell grants and Parent PLUS loans.

Less student debt benefits not only the student loan borrowers, but our Nation as a whole, since it allows them to have additional purchasing power which in turn boosts our economy, creates jobs, and increases the tax base.

Do you agree that existing racial disparities and family wealth and income mean that the private market would charge more on average to minority students and their families?

Why should we support a policy that would make it harder to close racial gaps in educational attainment?

Any action we take this Congress on higher education should increase the number of students who attend college, lower the cost for those who do, and help students complete a meaningful degree on time that will have value in the job market.

Many of the Republican school choice proposals that have been presented before us offer false choices that could only exacerbate educational inequities.

As co-chair of the congressional lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality caucus, I have concerns about the rights of our gay and lesbian students in voucher programs.