Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. The amendment would literally let States just take the money and run with no assurance that the billions of Federal dollars actually benefit the populations of students that ESEA was intended to serve: low- income, minority students who do not speak English, students with disabilities. The original purpose of ESEA was to address the special educational needs of children of low-income families and the impact that concentrations of low-income families have on the ability of local educational agencies to support adequate educational programs. Subsequently, we added a requirement that you identify and address achievement gaps. That is the purpose of the law. If you just opt out and take it as a block grant, you don't have to address the problems that the money is designed to cure. The underlying bill violates the original purpose of the original ESEA, and this amendment just makes it worse. I reserve the balance of my time.”