Bob Menendez: “I believe the budget we pass is reflective of the values we hold as a country and the vision we have for our Nation. And…”

“I believe the budget we pass is reflective of the values we hold as a country and the vision we have for our Nation. And the budget resolution and appropriations bills, such as the ones we are debating here, are moral documents and we should treat them as such. The bill before us is in clear disregard of the values that makes this country great. This is a bill that will do a disservice to our Nation and will only weaken its future. At a time when we can find the money to fund tax cuts of $140,000 for the lucky few who make over a million dollars a year, at a price tag of $10.7 billion next year alone, it is inexcusable and I find it immoral, that the first thing that goes is our investment in our children's future. Mr. Chairman, educators in schools across the country have been working hard to implement the changes No Child Left Behind asked of them to achieve: to raise proficiency, to demonstrate results. And they have been working to do this despite a persistent underfunding of the law totaling nearly $30 billion in the 4 years since we passed No Child Left Behind. This bill would increase that deficit to $40 billion. Now we are asking more of our schools than ever before. And yes, they can meet higher standards and they can increase performance, but we must provide them with the resources that we promised in this legislation. Now, I served on a school board, Mr. Chairman.…”