The Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act is a bill that will have a direct impact on our nation’s children. Expanding access to high-performing charter schools has the potential to make a world of difference for students across the country, simply by adding a much needed layer of choice and competition that is good for every aspect of the school system—not just charters. Unlike t... Read more »
The severity of our nation’s fiscal crisis cannot be overstated. More than 14 million Americans are looking for work. Meanwhile, federal spending continues at an unprecedented pace, with an average of $4 billion added to our country’s debt every day. We need to encourage economic growth and investment. Instead, leaders on the other side of the aisle are pushing more reckless policies, red tape, an... Read more »
Today I will introduce the Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act, the first in a series of proposals to reform education in America. There’s an urgent need to fix what’s broken in our nation’s education system. Roughly two-thirds of eighth graders lack basic reading and math skills. Only 70 percent of students graduate high school. Meanwhile, federal education spending is at an all-time... Read more »
I rise today in support of H.R. 471, legislation that would reauthorize the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. Created in 2004 with bipartisan support, this program has provided an educational lifeline and meaningful choices to thousands of District families. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. Everyone agrees our education system is broken and in need of repair. As we w... Read more »
In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, President Obama laid out his plan to conduct a comprehensive regulatory review to “remove outdated regulations that stifle job creation and make our economy less competitive.” I have pledged to be a partner in that effort. Job creation and American competitiveness are our top priorities. That is why I am offering an amendment to deny funds from bei... Read more »
Today’s effort is driven by a simple goal: to ensure every area of the federal government is dedicated to job creation. If we are to get the nation back to work, we all must work together to remove barriers to economic growth and prosperity. Every job matters, and every effort to help create a new job matters. The American people have demonstrated a relentless determination to make the difficult c... Read more »
For 20 consecutive months more than 14 million Americans have been unemployed. As much as we would like to solve this problem, the federal government cannot legislate or regulate our way to job creation. We can, however, foster economic certainty that will encourage families, businesses, and entrepreneurs to spend, hire, and invest. And that is what we will try to do today. Almost one year ago Dem... Read more »
On April 5th of this year, a tragedy struck Montcoal, West Virginia. On that day, an explosion at the Upper Big Branch coal mine killed 29 miners and provided a stark reminder that coal mining is a profession marked by risks and dangers. And while steps have been taken to strengthen protections for miners, this tragedy and others like it remind us that more work remains to be done. I believe steps... Read more »
The American people have spoken, and they continue to speak loud and clear. I’ve been listening, and I know what I have been hearing in the second district of Minnesota is being repeated from coast to coast. “Stop growing government,” the people are telling us. “Stop spending money we do not have.” It is a simple request, and a sensible one. Yet it continues to be ignored. Today’s vote will be amo... Read more »
Eighteen months ago, we gathered in this chamber to debate economic stimulus. Republicans wanted to help job creators, but the majority said no, “let’s borrow and spend.” And borrow and spend they did, to the tune of $862 billion. Back then, Democrats sent nearly $100 billion to states and districts to prop up school budgets. It would save 300,000 jobs, we were told, and improve public education. ... Read more »
