Political Quotes

“In that letter, he tells me that he regularly in the course of his counseling and in the course of his work sees parents who work "three and four jobs just to make their choice possible." He goes on to write that "your heart breaks to see this sacrifice made year after year." My fellow colleagues, parents are breaking their backs in this District to send their kids to schools that work, schools that really teach, schools that really provide an environment in which learning can take place. When you learn that only 10 percent--only 1 out of 10--of the District's fourth graders are proficient readers, your heart breaks all over again. These children almost certainly will never be able to catch up. ... It is inexcusable for a group of Senators, many from distant States, to turn this into a partisan issue of their own. Instead, they should fight to make the District of Columbia school system work better for more children, in public, private and charter schools across the city. "They should fight to make the DC school system work better for more children." Mr. President, we should--and we must--fight to do just that. The District schoolchildren should not be trapped in the shadows of our shining city on the hill.”