Political Quotes

“I have a number of concerns regarding the amendment as it is currently drafted. I would first note that the amendment gives great weight to the ``free exercise of religion'' without acknowledging the other half of the First Amendment, and that is the Establishment Clause. I am also concerned that the amendment is duplicative of previous efforts under ESEA. In No Child Left Behind, section 9524 requires the U.S. Department of Education to issue guidance on constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools. This guidance was developed with the Office of the General Counsel in the Department of Education and with the Office of Legal Counsel in the Department of Justice. Mr. Chairman, I am also concerned that the amendment implies that teachers can participate in religious activities with their students. The Constitution prohibits teachers from participating in religious activities with students when those teachers are acting in their professional capacity. Public school employees simply do not have the ``right to make the promotion of religion a part of their job description,'' says the Supreme Court decision in 2007. A sense of Congress provision in this bill will not override the Constitution.…”