Political Quotes

“I am proud to join Senator Franken in sponsoring the Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2010, SNDA, an important step in our march toward a more inclusive Nation. This bill continues the civil rights work we began earlier this Congress when I offered the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act as an amendment to the defense authorization bill last year. The Student Non-Discrimination Act will ensure that under Federal law, all public school children are protected equally from discrimination. Children deserve a safe environment where they can learn the skills and knowledge necessary to be good citizens. More than 55 years ago, in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court reaffirmed our Nation's commitment to justice and equal rights for all Americans by ending racial segregation in our public schools. A unanimous Court recognized that "it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he [or she] is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms." Congress continued on the path of progress by passing laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These laws protected students in federally-funded public schools from discrimination and harassment based on race, national origin, sex, and disability.”