Political Quotes

“what the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) is really talking about is civic responsibility. It has to start at a young age, and we reinforce it every step along the way with teachers in the classroom, with parents, in the community, where students come in contact with one another. I have seen that over the last several weeks in visiting schools. I would even encourage my colleagues here to go in and talk with students as much as they can. I think they appreciate it. I think the schools appreciate it. The teachers do. Because it makes all the difference in the world. I remember growing up, I never remember seeing an elected official in my school that I remember. I really do not. A Member of the United States Congress I know I did not see. But I think it makes a difference. I agree with the gentleman from New York, teachers are doing it in a number of ways. But I think if we can formalize it in a way, and with this, it would allow the Secretary of Education to provide grants to those communities on a one-time basis to pool these groups together, because one does need some resources to facilitate the community coming together, to at least define these issues or other issues that they think are as important to that community. Ultimately, we start to see the point the gentleman from New York made earlier, the involvement of the community in that public school, because it is about the public, bringing them to that school, getting their involvement.”