I have seen that we have made some improvement. I do not want to go back to what it was like back during the administration of Lyndon Baines Johnson.

In the last 4 years we have shown great improvement in graduation rates, in enrollment in higher education, and graduation, even, at the colleges.

You made the statement that the HBCUs are a very important component of higher education, and I have been one of the strongest supporters of HBCUs.

We sell our families short when we accept that high-interest loans are the best we can do for our communities.

America has made great progress since the financial crisis of 2008.

It is absolutely essential to have a bird's-eye view of our financial system, in order to identify and prevent systemic risks from destabilizing our entire economy.

This H.R. 692 is nothing but default by another name. Moreover, adding insult to injury, H.R. 692 mandates that we pay foreigners instead of American servicemembers and veterans.

Raising the debt ceiling is the only responsible thing to do, in my opinion.

Small businesses and Main Street are the lifeblood of our economy. We should be doing everything we can to ensure that Main Street America is able to prosper.

I strongly believe we must reauthorize Head Start without delay.

We must maintain the national program quality and comprehensive services of Head Start.