Political Quotes

“let me begin by saluting the outstanding leadership of Senator Kennedy and Senator Gregg. It is due to their tireless efforts, their commitment to a quality education, and their persistence and hard work that we can celebrate today the passage of landmark education reform legislation. It has been a great pleasure to work with them, with Secretary of Education Paige, and with the President to reach this day. During the past year, it has been a pleasure to work with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle as well as with the President and the Secretary of Education on this landmark education legislation. In approaching the reauthorization of the ESEA, I had three goals. One was to provide greater flexibility and more funding to our small or rural school districts. The second was to strengthen and put greater emphasis on early reading programs so that we could in fact achieve the goal of leaving no child behind. The third was fulfilling the Federal commitment to funding its share of special education costs. I am very pleased that we will realize the first two objectives through the Rural Education Achievement Program as well as the Reading First Program included in this bill. Although I am disappointed by the failure of the IDEA mandatory funding amendments, I know the Senate support for IDEA full funding will carry over into next year. And it will remain one of my highest priorities. The No Child Left Behind Act includes many innovative and promising reforms.…”