Rob Andrews: “I rise today in support of a good idea that makes common sense, and I commend its authors... I do believe there is a…”

“I rise today in support of a good idea that makes common sense, and I commend its authors... I do believe there is a growing national consensus that it makes sense to give local educational decision makers more flexibility to do what they think works in their community with Federal money. That is the essential principle of this idea, and it is why we should pass the bill. I will later today support the amendment... But I am pleased to be part of a growing national consensus in favor of public education. I do not want us, though, today in our justifiable pride in enacting this bill to overlook other aspects of a growing national consensus for public education as well. There are 2 million 3 and 4-year-old children in our country who do not have adequate access to prekindergarten education, and I believe there is a growing national consensus that this Congress has a role to step up to the plate and to help those children and those families.”