Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 10, but I wanted to clarify some of the debate that has been going on with my friend opposite, the gentleman from Florida. Many of the concerns that he has raised have been addressed in our Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Specifically, I put forth an amendment that required strong evaluations that would evaluate the scholarship program. Additionally, the committee passed an amendment to ensure not only strong accreditation standards as well, but equally important is the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia. I have made a personal commitment to her to work on making sure that we have proper accountability with regard to this scholarship program. None of us wants to be loose with the American taxpayer dollars. I want to also stress that this program does not decrease funding for D.C. public schools or charter schools. Indeed it is an addition to that appropriation. But it really comes down this, Mr. Speaker: it is the students that have benefited from this particular program. I was part of a hearing that was held at Archbishop Carroll High School. When you look into the faces of those students that were given an opportunity with a scholarship to not have to go to the school because of where they live but they got a scholarship to be able to go to a private school, you look into their faces and you hear the stories of just how it has affected their families and given them hope, Mr.…”