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…

I rise today to explain the effects on our States of the administration's cut of the No Child Left Behind Act. The $20 billion in education cuts could not come at a worse time as States scramble to close budget gaps and schools struggle to…

Yesterday afternoon the President held a Rose Garden ceremony to celebrate the No Child Left Behind Act. I voted for that legislation and I wish I could have joined in the celebration, but unfortunately because the administration refuses…

I rise this morning to call on Congress to fully fund the President's No Child Left Behind for school reform. Last Congress we passed legislation to create tough new standards our schools must meet and vigorous assessments to measure…

as we pause to remember this week our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice, I rise to pay tribute to our Nation's finest. These are our hometown heroes, and all they ask is that we provide them with quality…

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…

I rise to speak about this bill to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. As the only former State schools chief serving in Congress, I know firsthand the tremendous challenges facing our schools, teachers, parents…

First responders are our hometown heroes. Their sacrifice and service inspire us all. When the Federal Government raises the threat level to code orange, like we have seen in the last couple of weeks, and once before that when it was…

As we stand here today in Washington, DC, thousands of our men and women in uniform are in harm's way, fighting for the freedom and the values that we hold dear. They are in our thoughts and our prayers. They do not know what fate awaits…

our Nation's firefighters, law enforcement officers and EMS workers are truly our hometown heroes. When we call them, they risk their lives for all of us. The Federal Public Safety Officers Benefit provides the families of public safety…

I want to thank Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton for bringing this resolution to honor the men and women who are serving. I happen to represent in my district Fort Bragg and Polk, the two bases that are called the 911 posts in…

Mr. Speaker, I have been working hard to get Federal support for our schools. Although this White House talks a good game about education, when it comes to the budget, the devil is always in the details; and the details of the Bush budget…

What we are really doing in saying to local governments about pulling back impact aid, and in many of the cases, in many of the communities, in Fort Bragg in my district, many of these communities find themselves dependent on the impact…

Absolutely. We absolutely have to have these if we are going to tutor youngsters who are behind and need to catch up. Mr. Speaker, $1.2 billion below the level authorized. Teacher quality programs, the very thing we have to do if we are…

as we prepare to consider authorization of the use of force to deal with Saddam Hussein, Congress also must address critical issues facing our families. Congress must act to improve education, reduce health care costs and protect Social…

I am proud of the work of my colleagues who have worked together on a bipartisan basis to balance the budget for the first time in a generation. One of the first votes that I had the privilege of casting when I came in 1996 was to start…

As National Firefighter Memorial Weekend approaches, I rise to pay tribute to our Nation's fallen firefighters; and I am pleased that a number of my colleagues have joined me in legislation on this and may come later in the evening to…

I rise in support of this corporate reform bill to crack down on crooked business executives. This Congress must take action to rein in these crooks and restore confidence in American corporations. Mr. Speaker, we must all remember that…

As the 2002 hurricane season begins to heat up, I am pleased that we were able to get H.R. 2486, a bill to improve the forecasting of inland flooding and develop an inland flooding index on the floor of the House, and hopefully we can get…

Just briefly, Mr. Speaker, let me thank both my colleagues, because Clarence Lightner was an exceptional man; and my colleague was right when he said that if you ran for public office, as he and I did, and others, we are here to attest to…

I rise today in support and admiration of my hometown team, the Carolina Hurricanes, who, after just 5 years in North Carolina, made it to the Stanley Cup finals this year. The Hurricanes represented North Carolina well. They fought hard…

I rise today to voice my reluctant opposition to H.R. 2143. Mr. Speaker, I own a small farm and at one time was a small business owner. Therefore, I am fully aware of how estate taxes make it harder for parents to leave a legacy to their…

I want to take this time, and I will be joined by some of my colleagues a little later, I hope, to talk on this special order on the floor this evening about a very important issue facing this country today, maybe one of the key issues…

we are approaching Memorial Day, and I think most of us would like to get home. I certainly have plans for the weekend, wanting to be home with my family and friends and with those that we are going to honor who have given so much to this…

I rise today in support of Social Security. Social Security is our Nation's most successful domestic initiative. It has lifted millions of Americans out of poverty. Social Security represents a solemn promise to our seniors that says if…