Joe Manchin: “I first thank my colleague from Pennsylvania, Senator Toomey. I also thank the Senator from Tennessee, for whom I also…”

“I first thank my colleague from Pennsylvania, Senator Toomey. I also thank the Senator from Tennessee, for whom I also have the greatest regard for his knowledge and commitment to our children and education, to which he has dedicated his life, and also the Senator from Iowa. This is very serious and very personal to both of us. Our States have been affected. But every State has been affected. I am not in favor of a national school board in any way, shape or form. I strongly believe in the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution and States rights. But I believe that certain standards have to be set, and we have done that before as far as on a national level. There are five problems we have always talked about, and those five problems apply to every child in America--not just every child in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee or Iowa but in America. The first is every child should have a loving, caring adult in their life. Those are not always the biological parents or family. It could be you. It could be somebody next door. It could be an extended family member. Every child should have a safe place in their life. Unfortunately, as has been said, it is not always the home. It might be the school. Every child should have a healthy start. Nutrition--for many children across America, their breakfast, lunch, and nutrition comes from the school. Every child should be taught to have a livable skill. Again, that is in the school. We depend upon that.…”