Todd Rokita

The federal role in these programs may be doing more to hinder your success than help it.

We cannot expect children to learn or excel in the classroom if they are hungry or are not properly nourished.

It is time to provide those responsible for implementing child nutrition programs with the flexibility they need to ensure taxpayer dollars are well spent and students are well served.

The goal, frankly, should be to get the kids off these programs. Our success should not be measured by how many are on these programs.

I agree with the fact that we need to have this oversight in this committee. What I don't agree with is how we go about it, so uneven and heavy-handed.

The desire to improve the efficiency in our child nutrition programs is a good one, but must not lead to more hungry or food insecure children.

When we aren't able to give our children the nutrition they need, we fail them.

And for everyone, this is what is driving our debt. These pieces of the pie. They are all attached together, whether it is Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid, or the interest we owe ourselves and others for the amount of money we are…

I commend you for that. And clearly that has informed your agenda here today to make sure all of our Native students are provided with the best educational opportunities possible.

Too many schools lack adequate infrastructure and educational resources, compromising the health, safety, and future postsecondary and professional opportunities of the children they are intended to serve.

Unfortunately, the federal government is failing to keep its promise to these vulnerable children.

It is paramount that we uphold our promise to provide Native American children an excellent education that preserves their tribal heritage.

The state of BIE education is abysmal.

We cannot let that happen. This is what we came to Congress to solve, at least for many of us, hopefully, Republicans and Democrats, so that we are not the first generation in American history to leave the next one worse off.

I thank the gentleman from Georgia again. He is not only a blessing to his State, he is a blessing to this Congress and to this country for his integrity, his hard work, and for his oratory. Thank you, sir, very, very much. Mr. Speaker and…

Well, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, you see why he was elected mayor of Rogers, Arkansas. You see why he has been a leader in our U.S. military, and you see how and why he leads on the floor of this House. I…

I thank the gentleman again. The gentleman hits the nail right on the head. Middle class economics is a term, and it is just that. Watch what the President does to see how he affects the middle class.

I thank the gentleman, and I thank the gentleman for showing not only Members of Congress, but the American people, this chart that you have right there. I think you are hitting the nail on the head. This is exactly the problem. If I could…

I claim time in opposition to this amendment. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 minutes.

Again, I thank Mr. Polis for this amendment. The amendment simply clarifies that States may use, again, at their choosing, their funds under the local academic flexible grant to create or distribute open source education resources. This is…

I thank Mr. Costello for yielding. I want to congratulate him on already being an effective Member of Congress. I also want to thank Representative Bonamici for her continued work on this amendment and seeing it through; also…

I claim time in opposition, although I do not oppose the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

I claim the time in opposition, but I do not oppose the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

I claim the time in opposition, although I do not oppose the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

I thank my friend, the gentleman from Tennessee, for this amendment. This amendment will allow teachers and other school professionals, if they so choose, at the State and local level--and that is the key here throughout our bill--to…