Political Quotes

“I rise today to support efforts to modernize our schools so that our children have the skills and the tools they need for the jobs that they will face when they graduate. Two years ago I was pleased, with the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), to sponsor the Computer Donation Incentive Act to encourage businesses to donate computer equipment and software to schools to help upgrade the schools. Since that time in my district, we have wired almost 50 schools with volunteer effort. But we know that, if our children are going to learn, we not only need to have the hardware there, the software, be able to support teachers, to have the professional development and training they need, but our classrooms need to be smaller so that teachers can truly give children the attention that they need. That is why I am so strongly supporting the efforts to have the Federal Government be a junior partner in supporting communities to build new schools, to modernize their schools and to make sure that in order to have smaller classroom sizes, we have more classrooms and more teachers in those classrooms. This is a very important effort that the Federal Government needs to address. I urge it be a part of this year's budget.”