For each of the past 2 years Republicans have released budgets filled with giveaways to the wealthiest Americans at the expense of educating our nation's children.

We have also acted to improve services for students with special needs.

Central to that effort is keeping interest rates low on student loans.

It's time to acknowledge the fact that throwing more money into the nation's education system is not the right answer to the challenges facing our classrooms.

I want to see that money invested in kids who are being successful.

This year isn't any different. In March, Republicans put forth a budget that not only keeps in place the across-the-board cuts known as sequestration, but actually calls for even more draconian cuts in education programs across the country.

For every dollar we invest in preschool, that dollar returns $7 just in public funds.

President Obama recognizes education as an investment and not an expense.

I hope that we will be able to work out a long-term bipartisan support for student loan activity.

But if we invest in high-quality early childhood education--today less than 3 in 10 of our children have access to high-quality pre-K, and then we wonder why we have achievement gaps.

Together we can choose another path and make smart, strategic, long-term investments.

I appreciate that, like Republicans, the president has acknowledged the value of moving student loan interest rates back to a market-based system.