John Kline

The Common Core is being transformed from a voluntary, state-based initiative to a set of federal academic standards.

I want to emphasize the word 'voluntary' in that description.

Worker safety and health are among the most fundamental concerns of every employer in this country.

Study after study has shown that effective, knowledgeable teachers are among the most important factors when it comes to improving student academic achievement.

We're here today to explore how to ensure all children are taught by effective teachers.

The federal government ought to proceed with caution as we attempt to improve the quality of our teaching workforce.

One of the most promising strategies to promote excellence in the classroom is the concept of performance pay.

Some of the most dynamic, engaging teachers are new to the profession, bringing with them the enthusiasm of a Teach for America participant.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing. It is indeed not only important but a critical subject for us to address.

I want to caution against proposals that would undermine ERISA by pulling one string at a time.

Though imperfect, the employer-based health care system has been successful in many ways.

I am hopeful we can continue to work together to reach consensus on measures to provide more affordable and efficient ways of providing healthcare benefits.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And again, thanks to all the witnesses for really terrific testimony on a very, very tough subject.

I think that there is a universal recognition that we have a problem.

We must be careful not to undermine a voluntary approach that provides the most common form of health care coverage.

American businesses are true innovators when it comes to improving the health care system.

The current employer-based system delivers high quality coverage for approximately 160 million Americans.

This illegal and inappropriate discrimination--but unofficial, of course, and that is the problem--is one of those unintended consequences you don't want to see happen.

I am very concerned that one of our pillars here that we are looking at is Social Security, and it is Medicare.

I think to allow workers the opportunity to invest voluntarily in an account that will give them a guaranteed return, I think would be something that would be of enormous value to the country's workers at very low risk.

I think it does make sense to talk about having some additional guaranteed benefit that could be available to workers.

I don't understand where that air is supposed to come from. The SCSRs are not available. Those are on back order. Refuge chambers are not available. They are on back order. What are these miners supposed to do?

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution by educating people about domestic violence so that we may be able to prevent it from happening. Again, domestic violence is like a domino effect. Once it…

To think, one of the finest officers in the American Armed Forces felt it necessary to put this in the opening two sentences of his testimony, I find shocking and distressing.

I am saddened and, frankly, appalled that today in this House of Representatives we are debating a bill to put ``retreat and defeat'' into law at a time when we have our young men and women engaged in combat. There are many things... that…