Political Quotes

“As we have debated this bill over the last week and the week before in committee, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Miller] and I and others have been trying to eliminate a lot of the programs that the President wanted eliminated in the reauthorizing of elementary and secondary education. The Gore Commission also suggested and recommended a number of programs be eliminated. One such program is the Education for Native Hawaiians. This program benefits one group of people. It does not benefit the Nation as a whole. Nor does it advance the national education concerns. The Clinton administration recommended its elimination because the services under the program can be met by other programs. It is a perfect example of what we are trying to eliminate. As we continue to add programs back to the President's request, we continue to see these small, targeted programs added to this piece of legislation. It takes away its focus. Although the program is well-intended, it is well-meaning, I must ask, is it the role and the responsibility of the Federal Government to provide funding for something this small and this targeted that only serves one State in the Nation. I suggest to my colleagues that it is not my intent to hurt those from Hawaii, but it is not our role here in Washington to be funding these types of programs.”