Political Quotes

“I wish to thank Chairman Kline for his leadership on the legislation today and on the entire issue that he brings before Congress now. Chairman Kline has three notable goals when drafting the Student Success Act: restoring local control, reducing the Federal footprint, and empowering parents as well. He has succeeded in crafting a bill that works towards all these goals. For too long now, all across this Nation, parents, teachers, and administrators, the people that are closest and most directly responsible for our students, have spent their time fighting Federal education mandates rather than doing what we want them to do, which is focusing exclusively on teaching our students. Growing Federal intrusion into the American education system has been an unmitigated failure which has not improved students' achievement. To that end, I have now worked with the chairman to include language in the manager's amendment that clarifies that States are not required to accept Federal funds and the Federal mandates that are tied to them, so they are free to engage in the activity they need to. Additionally, the language clarifies that States are not required to participate in any of the Federal education programs. This language and the Student Success Act, as a whole, recognizes the American commitment to the principles of federalism, which allows for competition and innovation.…”