Bart Stupak: “we continue to debate how to deal with a sudden hike in gas prices. This is an important issue in my district. The First…”

“we continue to debate how to deal with a sudden hike in gas prices. This is an important issue in my district. The First Congressional District of Michigan sprawls across hundreds of miles of the upper Midwest. With extensive forests and beautiful rivers, with shoreline on three of the Great Lakes, tourism is an essential industry in my district. It is the second biggest industry in Michigan. But my district is also full of hardworking Americans who value education. Title I, Head Start, drug-free schools, and student loan programs are essential investments in the future for families in my district and the rest of America. But the majority leader has suggested education be cut to make up for lost revenue, if part of the Federal gas tax is repealed. Mr. Speaker, through shutdowns and budget gridlock we have fought and won battles to protect education. Now, in an effort to deal with an unrelated problem, we have to fight another Republican assault on education. Let's not penalize American school-children to help their parents at the gas pump. It makes no sense for my district or the Nation.”