Rod Grams: “I rise in strong support of the Armey amendment. Once again the Federal Government is trying to take greater control of…”

“I rise in strong support of the Armey amendment. Once again the Federal Government is trying to take greater control of the private lives of citizens in Minnesota and around the country. H.R. 6 is another big government knows best bill that restricts what only families and localities are best suited to do: Educate our children and grandchildren. The Ford amendment, while protecting homeschoolers, does not protect private and parochial teachers. We must preserve their rights as well. In the past week my office has received thousands of calls and letters from very concerned moms and dads in Minnesota. They all oppose H.R. 6 and are rightfully worried that the arm of government is about to extend into all classrooms, including private and parochial, and that means losing the ability to provide the education for their children they way they see fit. Representative Dick Armey's amendment keeps parents in charge of the education of their children, not the Government. The Armey amendment fully corrects the committee's mistake. Freedom from excessive Government intrusion is a hallmark of our great Nation. Private, parochial, and homeschools are a natural outgrowth of that freedom, I strongly urge my colleagues to support the Armey amendment and preserve our right to educate our children and grandchildren in an environment of our choosing.”