Political Quotes

“I think there is at least three issues we need to talk about today. The first thing is that the executive branch is moving outside of the intent of Congress. They are moving forward in defining the Federal Government's role in education without an agreement and without a consensus having been developed between the executive branch and Congress. This is a key issue and we should not move forward on this issue without an agreement between the executive branch and this Congress. This Congress and this committee should set the direction for national testing. A second issue that we really need to have a national debate about, beginning in this committee, is exactly what is the role of the Federal Government in education. Last year we went to 14 States, had hearings, had 22 different field hearings, and what we are hearing at the local level are some tremendous progress being made in education. It is not because of what we are doing here in Washington, but it is because of what parents, teachers and administrators are doing at the local level.”