Eva M. Clayton: “this indeed was a week that was, but I hope this is no indication of what our future may be. This is the week where we…”

“this indeed was a week that was, but I hope this is no indication of what our future may be. This is the week where we cut $3.5 billion from education funds. Yes, this is the week where we denied aliens who are here on the soil access to free education. Yes, this is the week where we also gave, I think, a very poor example that we have to have assault weapons in order to feel protected in the sanctity of our home. Mr. Speaker, this was the week that was. But I hope and pray this is no indication about the future that is to come. Mr. Speaker, our Nation deserves a future that is worthy of its past. In the past, we led the world in education. Today, we trail many nations in Europe and Asia. In the past, we adequately invested in education, spending 10 percent of our funds. Today, we spend roughly 1 percent, and worse, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to cut another 25 percent of those funds. It should, therefore, not surprise us, Mr. Speaker, that Japan, which now leads America in education, also leads America in the sale of many products and services. It should not surprise us that we have a balance of trade deficit with Japan. Education and our economic position are tied together. We all know the old adage, ``If you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door.'' We can not build better mousetraps without a solid foundation of education in this country. We cannot compete globally, without education at home.”