This blueprint will help the committee move forward to develop legislation that builds upon what we have learned from the latest version of ESEA, called No Child Left Behind, and fix what isn't working.

I am also concerned about the potential impact the legislation has on rural schools, school districts, and States.

the Paycheck Fairness Act would provide the necessary incentive to promote employer compliance, deter violations, and ensure that victims receive complete make-whole relief.

So there shouldn't be that gap, and it is no surprise to me that there are more women's businesses that are being started and that the men are the ones being laid off when we have a decrease in employment.

We all make decisions about our career paths, and we know that women have not made the same kinds of decisions in terms of sciences that certainly does play a role in the overall gender gap in our society.

We must reject proposals that make employers less likely to create new positions and fill vacant ones.

Many observers have characterized the EEOC's conduct in this case is one of sue first and ask questions later.

Thank you for holding this hearing.

I am still convinced that a lot of the gap is due to occupational segregation that exists, not due to an employer, but the decisions that are made by an employee.

The legislative process being promoted here today will not create jobs, except for trial lawyers.

Beginning with a hearing on the importance of world-class K-12 education for our economic success is an appropriate way to initiate our review of the issues surrounding reauthorization.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I want to thank you for starting this series of hearings on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

the First Lady--we had a meeting, we were all down at the White House to meet with the First Lady--twice, as a matter of fact--on this issue, and she has really taken this on.

there's nothing worse than embarrassing anybody; they will never forgive you.

Unfortunately, the Federal Government does not have a great track record in implementing programs that actually modify people's behaviors.

there's never a stronger advocate for a child than the parent.

How do you plan to work with the schools in America to design the best policies that can lead to healthier environments for kids, like perhaps recess before lunch?

I hope we can continue to call on you as we move forward.

I was a speaker at Buffalo High School graduation, and the thing that really struck me was, out of all of the graduates there, there were none that were obese.

I think it is a good program. ... it makes a tremendous impact, and particularly when leaders like you are involved in it.

I hope we can give a little bit of concentration to how we get the rubber to meet the road.

maybe we ought to think about pulling you in on this Elementary and Secondary Education Act to start thinking about what needs to be done in our elementary schools to get more health education, more exercise, things like that for kids.

I applaud the First Lady's efforts to raise obesity awareness.

I really don't think that we celebrate, enough, the average child doing something physical.

there are so many ways out there of having physical activity that kids kind of shy away from.