Pete Hoekstra: “I thank the Chairman. If this amendment and the other amendments do not deal about flexibility, do not deal about the…”

“I thank the Chairman. If this amendment and the other amendments do not deal about flexibility, do not deal about the degree of latitude that a local school district has, I am not sure what the debate is about. But what we have done in Washington is said, you will do these types of things and you will not have the flexibility to do the other types of things. We have 63 math and science programs today. We can, in this one instance, perhaps allow the local level a little bit more flexibility in how they are going to spend their dollars to meet the needs of their children. We have 63 math and science programs. Those go along with a whole range of other programs designed to meet the needs of the children. Let us move flexibility back into the local level, rather than sticking with mandates.”