George Voinovich

I think many recall the Washington Post investigative report on the infrastructure of the District schools.

And you need the union to agree to that?

It seems to me that if they are not performing, there ought to be a provision that says we will help you, and if you are unable to be helped, you have to be terminated.

I do not think many people are aware of the fact that I think you have increased your college attendance in the District by over 50 percent as a result of the program.

One of these days I would like to come out and visit a couple of your schools. I have not done that yet.

They have allocated, what, $125 million over 10 years?

The District's dropout rate is less than 50 percent, and it is a tragedy in the country that 50 percent of the kids in the urban districts are dropping out of school.

Mr. Chairman, if you do not mind, I would just like to say that when I was governor, in the area in Ohio where you lived, in Toledo, we were able to work an agreement that basically said that a teacher could ask for help, other teachers…

I certainly would not want to snuff it out before it is given an opportunity to show what it can or cannot do.

Chancellor Rhee, let me congratulate you on the progress that you have made.

I have a unique appreciation for the perspectives of State and local officials as we contemplate national policy.

There is no credible analysis that suggests that this bill will be a net job creator.

This bill will cost my State of Ohio and the country jobs is without dispute.

The other thing that I think that we need to talk about, candidly, is that unless we can bring China and India and the other developing nations in to this new regime, no matter what we do, it will not matter.

Quite simply, we are not fostering an environment that is friendly to business.

It is interesting that we had a hearing with all of the coal producers yesterday, Senator Carper and I did, and they said that they are really concerned about the impact of this on manufacturing.

That this bill will cost my State and the country jobs, I think, is without dispute.

The impact this legislation will have on jobs, workers and families is the heart of my concern with the Waxman proposal.

Madam Secretary, can you speak to the status of efforts to develop the systems, the databases that we need to verify passports and birth certificates?

I will never forget when we had the hearing last year and Senator Akaka said we have to stop, throw it all out, begin again, get everybody involved, and do it right.

What everyone ought to understand is that REAL ID, 5 years later after enactment has not been implemented.

I want to point out that PASS ID does in fact require confirmation of Social Security numbers using the Social Security Online Verification database.

Well, we will have the money to pay for it. You still have not told me how you are going to pay for it, Mr. LaHood.

But that is going to end, just like the $24 billion that we put in for highways in that bill, and it should have been something like $57 billion. It is going to be gone.

The earlier we can get on this, I think the better it is for everyone, including reducing the emissions.