The CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition hopes to combat violence, irresponsibility and dishonesty while strengthening the character of the next generation.

We believe that CHARACTER COUNTS! in personal relationships, in school, at the workplace, and in life.

We need to encourage efforts to implement such programs.

Yesterday Congressman Ernie Fletcher introduced an amendment, which allows teacher training funds to be used for character education training, to the Teacher Empowerment Act. It was adopted with my strong support.

It is important that we continue to encourage such creative flexibility.

I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania and the gentleman from Ohio for their leadership, and also my colleague from Indiana for his leadership, and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr

as a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, we have been working on education all year