Louis Stokes: “Mr. Chairman, we need to be up front in telling the American people what this bill does to the education of the Nation's…”

“Mr. Chairman, we need to be up front in telling the American people what this bill does to the education of the Nation's children. We need to tell parents how this bill threatens the quality of their children's education, their school safety, and their future career opportunities. And, while we are doing this, let's be mindful that everyday parents across-the-country are telling their children to study hard, get a good education, and you will be a success. Parents need to know that the Republicans on the committee voted against amendment after amendment to even partially restore funding to critical education programs. Even as we meet here today, the Republicans have said that these cuts are meaningless. Well, I do not think that the parents of the 1 million children that will be denied title-I assisted learning in reading and math will find the over $1 billion cut in title-I meaningless. I do not think that parents who are concerned about drugs and crime in their community's schools will find the $266 million cut in safe and drug free schools meaningless. Mr. Chairman, our children should not be forced to pay for a tax cut for the wealthy. Let's not deny our children their chance to achieve the American dream. For the children's sake, I ask my colleagues to vote against H.R. 2127.”