Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, while the conference report that we are considering today includes some important and exciting education reforms, I will not be able to support this bill. However, I do encourage my colleagues to vote for the rule and move the bill forward. The bill is an important component that the President has outlined for education reform. However, it is only part of the President's vision. The mandates and the testing requirements in this bill are not balanced with the remainder of the President's bill, the parts that empower parents and free schools from the Federal bureaucracy. New mandates should not be the first step in education reform. I am encouraged that this bill has seen some progress since the original bill that left the House. High stakes testing, testing with rewards and sanctions tied to test performance, that has been removed. There are provisions that will hold schools accountable for student performance, and give children in failing schools opportunities for a better education. Also, States will only have to implement new testing requirements if the Federal Government steps up and fully funds this new mandate. As I said, I am also most encouraged that this bill is only a part of the President's vision. I look forward to working with the President and the administration in implementing the remainder of the vision that he outlined to the American people.”