I defy anyone in this room to look around them and not see something, a tie, these paintings, you know, the curtains behind the chairman, every one of these things, designed by an artist.

Because the federal budget should reflect our values as a nation. And that is just what the President's budget will do.

Because ensuring that children and their families have access to high-quality, comprehensive services that help the children develop cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally enables them to succeed in school and in life.

Children who receive quality early childhood education and development services do better in reading and math, and are more likely to graduate from high school attend college, and hold higher paying jobs.

That is why I was so pleased to see that President Obama's budget will commit significant new resources to early childhood.

It is appropriate that this is our first hearing this congress, both because we are here to focus on the first years of a child's life and because there is no issue more important than early childhood development.

Last month, in his address to a joint session of Congress, President Obama set a goal of ensuring that every child has access to a complete, competitive education from birth forward.

I agree that Congress should look at ways through which we can support the work states are currently doing to guarantee our youngest children are provided the early learning opportunities they need to succeed in school and in life.

You can judge an individual by how that individual spends his or her money. And you can judge government by how that government spends the taxpayers' money.

Congress, not faceless bureaucrats. Congress shall have the power.

I take an oath every two years to uphold this Constitution. I don't take any oath to uphold what any bureau may say.

Those words weren't put there just willy nilly. Our founding fathers really were trying to figure out a way to position the Federal government vis-a-vis the Indians.

I passionately support the recognition of the sovereignty of the Lumbee Tribe and the Virginia tribes.

I think all of us up here take an oath each year, every two years, to follow the Constitution.

I strongly support both bills. ... I believe that these bills will bring justice long denied to the Lumbee and Virginia Tribes.

I introduced this resolution, along with my Michigan colleagues, so that we might recognize the milestone reached by the gentleman from Michigan, John D. Dingell, who, as of today, has served longer in the House of Representatives than any…

Thank you again for all you have done for us, for enriching this body, for, as I say, making myself a better person, making this body a better body. May the riches of God's blessings go with you as you return home. Thank you very much. God…

You know, it is interesting. We have friendships across the aisle and we do cooperative things across the aisle. I remember very early in your career here you came up to me and you said, I have an amendment I am going to offer in the…

On that, let me indicate I have a list of groups here who support both full funding of IDEA and support this bill. I will just read a few of them: the American Federation of Teachers, the American Association of School Administrators, the…

we're all concerned with fiscal responsibility, but I can recall a tough political vote I took the first year of President George W. Bush. That was on about a $2 trillion tax cut, $2 trillion. That's $2,000 billion. This bill will cost…

I have some schools that were built before I was born, and you can guess maybe how old those schools are. Some of them are in deplorable condition. Then I have some school districts which, thanks to the voters because they are a little…

This bill would address three critical issues facing our country: closing the achievement gap, boosting the economy by creating thousands of construction jobs, and reducing school energy costs and protecting the environment. This bill…

Improved funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and Head Start are integral to every child having the opportunity to succeed in school and in life. The Child Care and Development Block Grant enables 1.8 million children…

I want to thank Chairmen Miller and Hinojosa and Ranking Members McKeon and Keller for reporting this fine bill out of committee by a vote of 45-0. It was 10 years ago that Mr. McKeon and I managed the reauthorization of this bill, and…

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to be here today to reauthorize Head Start. And I know that everyone agrees that it has been far too long since we have authorized the Head Start Act. Head Start has served millions of our most vulnerable children…