Political Quotes

“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.”