Political Quotes

“I rise in opposition to Mr. Goodling's amendment. In so doing, I want to thank Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for helping me remember an important lesson learned. We have a crisis in the schools of the District of Columbia--like we do in my home district in Philadelphia. Here in Washington, school opening day was postponed by 3 weeks and Congresswoman Norton challenged us to take in a student as an intern. In the absence of school, the hope is that we would be able to provide students with another avenue of learning. My office has been lucky enough to host Heyda Benkriera, a junior at the Woodrow Wilson Senior High in Tenleytown. Heyda is a joy--smart, hard-working, mature, and a great sport. Some people who have worked with Heyda are shocked to learn that she's in high school, that she's not a member of our staff. Heyda and Congresswoman Norton reminded us of a truism that we already knew but took for granted--that Heyda, and her fellow students, are our future. I am here today to remind this Congress what Heyda has taught us--that we as a nation must meet the challenge of bringing back our schools here in the District of Columbia, in Philadelphia, and across the Nation. I am convinced that one way we can do this is to embrace the kind of national testing program our President has proposed. This is a way for us to better insure that kids in Philadelphia, PA, Washington, DC, and Selma AL, are getting a fair and equal chance at a great future.”