I expect we will also address a proposal introduced by my Democrat colleagues, one that offers their priorities for reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act.

I would like to thank our witnesses for being with us. I also want to extend my appreciation to Representatives Virginia Foxx, Buck McKeon, and Joe Heck for their continued leadership on this important issue.

The American people are really frustrated right now.

A strong and skilled workforce is vital to the nation's economic recovery.

The government isn't going to create the jobs.

I am a big believer in doing things, not just trying to do things.

I would argue and will argue that the trillion dollars of additional debt that the president's budget places on our children and students is probably not helpful for their future.

Students and their families need lasting solutions, not employ promises and short-term initiatives that kick the can down the road.

I am really disappointed in the lack of any increase in IDEA funding in the president's budget.

Regrettably, the administration has taken a markedly different course, advancing several programs and initiatives that make the federal role in education more costly and more intrusive.

I think this is an overreach on your part. I don't believe that the language of the law allows the secretary to provide conditional waivers.

The point is we have to set priorities and my argument is that we ought to have the priority be IDEA funding.