Political Quotes

“I have always stood by the saying that ``education is the great equalizer''. Yet, in this bill, we are allowing education to be easily accessible to the haves and more difficult to obtain for our Nation's have-nots. This attitude toward education is a giant step backwards to 40 years ago. Low-income children, children with disabilities and individuals who want to go to college are the ones that are being hurt substantially in this bill. Although, the 2004 budget resolution was to provide the Department of Education with a $3 billion increase, this bill only allows for a $2.3 billion increase over Fiscal Year 2003. The Title I program is one that is hit the heaviest. Title I schools have the least experienced teachers, less competitive teacher salaries, higher teacher turnover, a less rigorous curriculum, the least amount of resources and students with greater academic deficits, which all adds up to these schools being less able to meet the No Child Left Behind Act's mandates. Instead of providing a substantial increase to offset the disadvantage these schools are already facing, this bill only provides a $666 million increase, compared to the $1 billion in the 2004 budget resolution. On April 30, this House passed the IDEA reauthorization bill with the promise attached from the 2004 budget resolution to provide a $2.2 billion increase over the current level. Yet, this bill falls $1.2 billion short of that promise.”