Political Quotes

“let me begin by saluting the leadership of my colleague, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Senator Lieberman. He has been so persistent in ensuring a debate on this program. His leadership on this issue, as on every other issue I work with him on, has been exemplary. I am pleased to join Senators Lieberman, Ensign, Voinovich, Feinstein, and Byrd in offering this amendment to reauthorize the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program. More than 5 years ago, leaders in the District of Columbia became frustrated with institutionalized failure within the public school system, and designed a ``three-sector'' strategy that provided new funding for public schools, public charter schools and new educational options for needy children. Working with the District, Congress then implemented the DC School Choice Incentive Act in 2004, giving birth to the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program. The program is the first to provide federally funded scholarships to students, and has enabled low- income students from the District of Columbia public school system to attend the independent-private or parochial school of their choice. For many of these students, this was their first opportunity to access a high quality education. The program has clearly filled a need, a fact that is illustrated by the long lines of parents waiting to enroll their children in the program. Since its inception, more than 7,000 students have applied for scholarships.”