Political Quotes

“I rise today to discuss a program that has been left out of the Labor-HHS-Education bill as it is currently drafted, the Rural Education Initiative Act, which I introduced and which the House passed as part of H.R. 2 last October. The Rural Education Initiative Act provides small rural school districts with additional funds and flexibility to help meet their unique challenges posed by the most current Federal formula grant programs. It would affect about 39 States, has wide bipartisan support, and it has been endorsed by over 80 education organizations. I am fully aware that enacting the Initiative Act would require authorizing on an appropriations bill, and I hope the ESEA will be reauthorized and we will not have to ask the appropriators for their support. If ESEA is not reauthorized, there are a lot of small rural schools out there that cannot wait another year for Congress to act. They need the flexibility and they need the assistance now. Although I choose not to offer an amendment at this time, Mr. Chairman, I hope that as we continue through the process Members would consider adding the provisions of the Act to the bill.”