Political Quotes

“I am pleased that the supplemental appropriations bill which we will vote on today includes much needed funding for education. Federal support to improve the educational opportunities of disadvantaged students is provided under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Earlier this year, the Department of Education announced the allocation of title I funds for qualified schools. The Department was forced to make cuts in the expected funding for all of these school districts, due to a shortfall in the amounts appropriated for this purpose last year. This bill provides $161 million to cover that shortfall; $2.4 million of these funds will be allocated to schools in my State. With this funding, schools in Mississippi will be able to continue to provide essential learning resources to students from preschool through 12th grade. In April of this year, in his capacity as chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, Senator Specter authorized me to chair a hearing in Mississippi to examine the effectiveness of title I in my State. Our panel of witnesses included Mississippi Department of Education officials and local school superintendents. The resounding message from the hearing was that title I funds are vital to making good learning opportunities available to all of Mississippi's students.”