On the recordOctober 21, 2015
I thank the gentlewoman from D.C. Mr. Chair, it is extremely unfortunate that we are here yet again debating legislation that would interfere with the ability of D.C. residents to make decisions for themselves. So far this Congress, the House has attempted to block laws that would protect District women's reproductive rights and reform Washington's drug laws. And now we are asked to continue a failed private school voucher program, a program that a majority of the D.C. Council opposes and on which they are not even consulted, a program that D.C.'s own longtime Congresswoman opposes. I am shocked at the arrogance of this body to set aside the will of the citizens of the District of Columbia so fleetingly. It is disgraceful that in this building, a symbol of our democracy, we impose such policies on a city that does not even get a vote on these decisions. Additionally, I oppose this bill because it weakens D.C.'s public school system. Instead of taking public dollars to outsource our children's education to private schools, we should be focusing on truly reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. We need an updated ESEA that strengthens public schools for all our children and prepares students for the globally competitive world we live in. Education should be the great equalizer, and every student should have access to the best education, regardless of their ZIP Code or their socioeconomic status.…
