NAN A. S. HAYWORTH: “There is a simple realization that confronts us today in this chamber, and that is, despite the very concerted efforts…”

“There is a simple realization that confronts us today in this chamber, and that is, despite the very concerted efforts of some very dedicated people, the schools of the District of Columbia, this Nation's seat of government, for which this body bears ultimate constitutional responsibility, those schools are in crisis. And for the parents of the District of Columbia and for their children, this simple notion should reign supreme. In this land of the free, those parents should have the freedom to choose which school they believe to be best for their children, and this tool of scholarships is something needed in terms of educational triage for a system that sadly has failed the citizens of the District of Columbia, has failed the students of the District of Columbia. That is why we stand here today in the well of this House to reaffirm the notion of freedom and choice. Imagine if your child had to go to a school daily where there were unsafe conditions, where someone could not learn; and it is for the children we make this pledge and we make this vote, and that is why I am pleased to support the legislation of the gentleman from Texas.”