Political Quotes

“I first commend the Senator from Connecticut for his extraordinary efforts. He has such a commitment to improving the education of disadvantaged children. He has been a leader in this effort, and I am very honored and pleased to join him tonight as his principal cosponsor of a very important amendment. We talked a great deal during the past few days about what the proper role is for the Federal Government with regard to education. We all agree that States and local communities have the primary responsibility for education, but since the mid-1960s, when the Federal Government first passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the role of the Federal Government has been to promote educational equity, to try to narrow that persistent and troubling achievement gap between disadvantaged children and their peers. That is the reason the Federal Government is involved at all in education. It is to help with the education of the poorest children in this country, to help ensure they have the same opportunities as children from more affluent families. Title I authorizes Federal aid to State and local education agencies for the education of these disadvantaged children.”