Political Quotes

“the prior speaker said she was appalled by some of the characterizations. Funny, that was my emotion when this Congress just 2 months ago cut $12.5 billion from college assistance, the largest cut in the history of the United States for college assistance. So when you want to get appalled, try getting appalled by the biggest cut, $12.5 billion, from college assistance. We have all read many articles that in the 21st century a college education is as essential to economic success as a high school education was in the 20th century. In a century in which you earn what you learn, what does the Republican Congress do as one of its first acts? The largest cut in history in college assistance, $12.5 billion. And on the heels of that, they propose this act which, literally on the heels of a $12.5 billion cut, a bill that would freeze Pell Grants 2 years in a row at the level they are at. The average Illinois graduate today graduates $15,000 in debt. You are supposed to get your diploma on graduation day. You get your diploma and your Visa credit bill. That is what is happening to our kids. Parents in my district are working second jobs, taking second mortgages so their kids get a chance at a future where doors are opening. And what are we doing in this Congress? We are slamming the door on their future. We can do better than that. We owe it to our children.…”