Jun 25, 2008
I rise in support of H.R. 6275, Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008. H.R. 6275 is critical to easing the burden on middle-class taxpayers. The Alternative Minimum Tax, AMT, was originally intended to make sure that the Nation's…
Emerson Etheridge
The Public Record
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by number of sources- I rise today to call on this House to reject the administration's education cuts. As a former superintendent of my State's public schools, I worked my entire life to improve education for our children. Last Congress the administration promised to provide historic new funding to help our schools meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. Because of these promises, I voted with the overwhelming bipartisan majority to pass that legislation. Now, as our schools struggle to avoid being labeled failing by the Department of Education, the administration has proposed massive cuts in educational funding. For the first 3 years of No Child Left Behind, the administration is proposing to underfund it by nearly $20 billion. These education cuts will make it virtually impossible for our children and schools to meet the tough new standards imposed by the Department of Education. Mr. Speaker, my State has led the Nation in raising performance standards in our schools, but tough requirements without real resources will amount to nothing but cruelty for our children and schools. Congress should call time out on the No Child Left Behind Act until the administration provides the funding it has promised to make it work.4 sources2003govinfo.gov
- I rise to call on this Congress to support our public schools. As the first member of my family to graduate from college, I know firsthand that quality public education is the key to the American dream, an opportunity for all children, not just the privileged few or those who have funds. As a former superintendent of my State's schools, I know that educating all of our children is the key to America's strength and our Nation's security. There is a lot of arguing in Washington today about the role of the Federal Government in education. But I have spent many hours in the classrooms of my State. No child has ever asked me who paid for the books, who paid for the building or who paid for the computer. Children only know what they have received or whether or not they have been denied an education. We must stop this bickering over the role of the Federal Government. These are our children. They are America's children. We have a responsibility to make sure that they have the opportunity for a good education. We must build new schools, rebuild old ones, raise education standards, involve parents in education, improve the quality of our teachers, and make our schools safe. We can become the education Congress.3 sources1997govinfo.gov
- I rise today to call on this Congress to pass legislation to strengthen our neighborhood public schools. As a former superintendent of schools in my State, I know firsthand what it takes to improve education for all of our children. We must raise academic standards for our students and ensure accountability to our parents, the taxpayers and our communities. We must build new schools to reduce overcrowding and to provide a safe and orderly disciplined environment, free from drugs, violence and gangs. We must reduce class size and equip our children with the basic skills they need to make the best of their God-given ability. But instead of helping our public schools, where over 90 percent of all of our children attend, this Republican-led Congress, has chosen risky voucher schemes that would divert public resources to subsidize private schools. Using taxpayer money to provide private schools tuition is wrong. Our neighborhood public schools need all the resources we can provide them. I commend the President for his veto yesterday of the private school voucher scheme. I have a better bill for our public schools. My bill would provide money out of that voucher bill to provide building new schools. I urge this Congress to take action.3 sources1998govinfo.gov
- on behalf of North Carolina's children and our working families, I rise in support of this budget resolution and I congratulate you, Chairman John Spratt for your visionary leadership in crafting this important document. With this budget resolution, the Democratic majority will succeed where our Republican predecessors failed. To budget is to govern, and this resolution will produce a balanced budget with balanced priorities. As the only former State schools chief serving in Congress, I am particularly pleased about this measure's provisions for education and innovation. Specifically, rather than continue the Republicans' record of passing a crushing debt burden on to future generations, the Spratt resolution contains tough budget discipline for a new direction for the Federal budget. The Spratt resolution rejects the President's proposed education cuts and instead provides greater investment in our Nation's schools, including the school construction bonds Chairman Rangel and I have been working on for nearly a decade and increased Impact Aid for federally impacted local public schools. It provides $50 billion for children's health insurance. And it protects millions of middle income families from the onslaught of the alternative minimum tax.2 sources2008govinfo.gov
- as the only former state schools' chief serving in Congress, I rise today in appreciation of the lasting impact that teachers make on the lives of all Americans. Each of us in the House have benefited from the care and guidance of a talented educator. Each of us knows, from personal experience and reports from our district, many of the amazing success stories in our schools today. These successes would not be possible without our dedicated teachers who lend their skills, experience, and passion to the task of educating our children. I am profoundly thankful to all of my teachers, who pushed me to succeed and taught me valuable lessons. Ms. Flossie Barber, who taught me at the Cleveland School, was the personification of teaching. Stern and tough, but always caring with each and every student, her early lessons enabled me to achieve my goals and more. Coach Bruce Coats taught me what it meant to be a member of a team and how to contribute to the greater good. I hope that everyone has the privilege of great teachers like these, and remembers to give them thanks for their hard work and inspiration. Too often, we do not give our teachers the respect and esteem that they deserve. This day, and really this whole week, is an opportunity to stop and remember the professional educators who work every day to build a bright future for our children and our Nation. Their efforts shape the world of tomorrow, and they deserve our support every day throughout the year.2 sources2008govinfo.gov
- I rise today to call on Congress to support accountability in education reform. Last year, Congress passed President Bush's ``no child left behind'' education reform bill. The legislation authorized billions of dollars in new funding to support administration's reform effort that seeks to ensure accountability from our schools, but who will hold the administration accountable? The fact is that this administration is shortchanging our schools nearly $20 billion under the No Child Left Behind. While our schools' struggle to meet tough new standards and local budgets is stretched to the limit in this bad economy, the administration has failed its responsibility to provide leadership and resources for our schools. Congress must hold the administration accountable. I have introduced legislation to do just that. H.R. 2366 requires full funding of the No Child Left Behind act or suspends its punitive measures. Without full funding, No Child Left Behind will become a massive unfunded mandate that will require cuts in vital services and increased property taxes or both. Similar legislation has been introduced in the other body, and I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort to hold the administration accountable to our children, to our schools, and to our taxpayers.2 sources2003govinfo.gov
govinfo.gov
Jun 20, 2008
I rise in support of H.R. 6304, FISA Amendments Act. This bipartisan bill takes steps to increase our Nation's security while also protecting Americans' civil liberties. H.R. 6304, FISA Amendments Act, provides the critical tools that our…
May 22, 2008
I rise again today, in strong support of the 2008 Farm Bill. Mr. Speaker, because of a technical glitch, this Farm Bill will have a new number, but this is the same bill. This is the same bill that was passed on a bipartisan vote in the…
May 21, 2008
Chairman Skelton, let me thank you for your friendship and for your extraordinary leadership on the Committee on Armed Services. I appreciate your willingness to engage me in the important topic of suicide prevention in our military…
May 21, 2008
I rise in support of H.R. 6049, Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008. This bill provides tax relief for millions of Americans while spurring business investment and innovation in renewable energy. I am pleased to note that H.R…
May 14, 2008
let me commend the chairman and ranking member for their hard work. And I stand in support of this conference report. This truly is a bipartisan piece of legislation that the House Agriculture Committee has produced and one that affects…
May 5, 2008
as the only former state schools' chief serving in Congress, I rise today in appreciation of the lasting impact that teachers make on the lives of all Americans. Each of us in the House have benefited from the care and guidance of a…
Mar 13, 2008
on behalf of North Carolina's children and our working families, I rise in support of this budget resolution and I congratulate you, Chairman John Spratt for your visionary leadership in crafting this important document. With this budget…
Feb 7, 2008
I rise in support of this fine legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to pass it. This is a good bill, and I commend the bipartisan work of the Education and Labor Committee under the leadership of Chairman George…
Dec 19, 2007
I rise in support of H.R. 3996, Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2007 and urge my colleagues to join me in voting for its passage. This bill provides tax relief for millions of Americans by raising the exemption amounts on the Alternative…
Nov 14, 2007
I rise tonight to call to the attention of Congress what is occurring in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. When you look at the statistics and look at the effects, there is only one word that can describe this…
Nov 14, 2007
as the only former State superintendent of schools serving in Congress, I have devoted my life to the well-being and development of children, and I strongly support Head Start. I rise in support of H.R. 1429, the Head Start for School…
Nov 6, 2007
I rise in support of H.R. 3495, ``Kids in Disasters Well-Being, Safety, and Health Act of 2007.'' My life's work has been to provide for a better future for the next generation, and H.R. 3495 is in keeping with this purpose. This bill…
Oct 23, 2007
I remember when we went out to South Dakota and through Iowa and how tough it was when it was dry. I will always remember with my good friend, Jerry Moran, we flew into Kansas last year to do a hearing on the ag bill. Lo and behold, when…
Oct 23, 2007
According to the National Drought Monitor Center, North Carolina is still reporting, as I said, the largest drought impact in the United States at this time. The crop conditions are devastating. Let me just share with you an example of a…
Oct 23, 2007
Let me share some numbers, and I think the same could be said for South Carolina as in North Carolina. This is from the National Government, and this map here was actually from the U.S. Department of Drought Monitoring and it is dated…
Oct 23, 2007
I rise tonight to begin this hour to put a great spotlight on what is occurring in the southeastern region of the United States. You know, when you look at the statistics and you look at the effects, there is only one word that can…
Oct 23, 2007
You know, not being able to water our lawn, wash your car, take a long shower is an inconvenience; but if you're a farmer and you don't have the water for your crops, it's catastrophic. Because you not only have an opportunity to lose your…
Oct 23, 2007
I am. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I do. And it is one of those things where, as I said earlier, it didn't start this year. It really started last year, as you remember. We had a dry winter, then a late frost that hurt the spring…
Jul 26, 2007
Thank you. For many of my colleagues this is just another earmark. For me this is somewhat personal because the first job that I ever held right out of high school before I went to college was in a textile plant. That was when they were…
Jun 19, 2007
I believe that immigration law is and should be the responsibility of Federal border and Customs officials, and not delegated to the States and local authorities who are already burdened with protecting their communities. I, therefore, do…
May 16, 2007
I rise in honor of our brave men and women in uniform, the police officers, firefighters and other public service officers who protect our communities. As yesterday was National Peace Officers Memorial Day, there is no better time to call…
May 10, 2007
as a former school chief serving in Congress, I rise today to commemorate National Teacher Appreciation Week. All across America this week, our Nation's school children, parents, PTAs and others are gathering to show their appreciation to…
Mar 28, 2007
I rise in support of H.R. 1538, Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of it. I support H.R. 1538 because I believe our men and women in uniform who have served our country deserve…
Politicians like Emerson Etheridge
