Joe Wilson: “I want to express how fortunate I feel today. We have the opportunity to assist an extremely important profession that…”

“I want to express how fortunate I feel today. We have the opportunity to assist an extremely important profession that is often overlooked: teachers. I have seen firsthand the difficulties and challenges these dedicated professionals face since my wife Roxanne is a teacher in Lexington District 2. Today thanks to the leadership of the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the House will vote to increase loan forgiveness to a group of teachers that are desperately needed in our country's rural and urban areas. Math, science and special ed teachers who commit to teach 5 years in a low-income school will receive up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness through H.R. 438, the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act. I agree with President Bush that we must ensure all students receive a quality education. I urge my colleagues to support passage of the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act. In conclusion, God bless our troops.”