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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND FAIR TO
MANY OF THE STUDENTS WHO, YES,
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THESE
FEW SCHOLARSHIPS AND GOD HELP US
I JUST WISH THERE WERE MORE
BECAUSE THEY WISH THERE WERE
MORE AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
I YIELD TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA ONE MINUTE.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
MAJORITY HAS BEEN OBSESSED WITH
THE -- WITH DEPRIVING THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WITH ITS
RIGHTS EVER SINCE THIS CONGRESS
OPENED.
THEY HAVE COME OUT WITH THEIR
CHOICE, THEIR PREFERENCE, FOR
THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT.
IF IN FACT THE MAJORITY IS
CORRECT, THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS
BEEN SO EFFECTIVE, I ASK YOU,
WHY YOU HAVE NOT BROUGHT A
NATIONAL VOUCHER BILL TO THE
FLOOR SO THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS
COULD HAVE THE VERY SAME THING
MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE?
I KNOW WHY.
IT'S THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY.
TO PUT IT ON US AND NOT BRING A
BILL TO THE FLOOR TO GIVE THE
SAME WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUR OWN
PEOPLE.
I HAVE A HOME RULE AGENDA IN THE
AMENDMENT COMING UP, I CHALLENGE
YOU, I CHALLENGE YOU TO BRING A
NATIONAL BILL TO THE FLOOR THIS
SESSION.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I'D LIKE TO INQUIRE OF
THE MINORITY, DO YOU HAVE
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS AT THIS
TIME?
NO, WE DO NOT.
ARE YOU PREPARED TO
CLOSE?
COME WE'RE PREPARED TO CLOSE,
MR. SPEAKER --
WE'RE PREAST
PREPARED TO CLOSE, MR. SPEAKER.
MIGHT I INQUIRE HOW MUCH TIME
EACH SIDE HAS?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND HAS 1
1/2 MINUTES LEFT AND THE
FIVE MINUTES REMAINING.
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA HAS
LET ME SAY THIS,
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE RANKING MEMBER SAID THAT
BASICALLY THIS IS A GIFT TO THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE COMMITTEE.
AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF HE
WOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION,
WHILE HANDING THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA $20 MILLION IN
VOUCHERS, H.R. 1, WHICH HE VOTED
FOR, WOULD TAKE FROM THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NOW, $2.39
MILLION FROM THE D.C. TITLE 1
FUNDING, $500,000 FROM THE
FUNDING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS, THIS
IS JUST FROM THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
$23.5 MILLION FROM PELL GRANTS
SO THAT WHEN THESE KIDS GET
THROUGH THE SYSTEM LIKE HE JUST
SAID THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE
SOME MONEY TO GO TO SCHOOL.
BUT H.R. 1 TAKES AWAY $845 PER
YEAR, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR
A COLLEGE STUDENT, $5.7 MILLION
FROM FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY GRANTS,
$3.29 MILLION FROM HEAD START
PROGRAMS WHICH WOULD DISALLOW
700 STUDENTS FROM GOING TO HEAD
START.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GIVING A
GIFT, THAT ALL -- I MEAN, THAT'S
ONE THING.
BUT JUST IN PELL GRANT AS I LOAN
YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THE VERY
PEOPLE THAT YOU SAY YOU SUPPORT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT --
LET'S JUST BE FAIR ABOUT THIS.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS ABOUT EVERY
CHILD.
WE WANT EVERY CHILD, I'VE SAID
IT IN COMMITTEE AND I'LL SAY IT
AGAIN.
THERE'S NOBODY ON THIS SIDE OF
THE AISLE WHO WANTS MORE FOR
EVERY CHILD TO HAVE AN EDUCATION
AND HAVE A GOOD EDUCATION THAN
WE DO.
AND SO HOPEFULLY THIS MATTER
WILL BE RESOLVED, BUT THE ISSUE
-- THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO DOED
IT WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I
TO DO IT.
YIELD -- BUT THIS IS NOT THE WAY
BACK.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
YOU KNOW, THERE HAS
BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT H.R. 1
AND I THINK THAT'S A BIGGER
PICTURE THAN WHAT WE'RE LOOKING
AT HERE TODAY.
BUT IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
REPUBLICANS OFFERED ON THIS
FLOOR IN PAST -- AND PASSED,
WITHOUT THE SUPPORT FOR THE MOST
PART OF THE OTHER PARTY, A
CONTINUING RESOLUTION.
WE HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE IN
TRYING TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT
AND WE TRIED TO FUND THE
GOVERNMENT AT OVER 90%-SOME OF
WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FUNDED
HAD THE MAJORITY NOT CHANGED AND
CERTAINLY AT OR ABOVE 2008
LEVELS.
BUT THAT BILL DIED IN THE
SENATE.
EVERYTHING SEEMS TO HAVE DIED
IN THE SENATE AND YET IT CAN BE
DEMAGOGUED AS THOUGH WE CUT.
BUT YOU CAN'T CUT WHAT YOU
HAVEN'T DONE, AND YOU CAN'T CUT
WHAT YOU HAVEN'T OFFERED AN
ALTERNATIVE FOR.
WE CUT WHAT WAS ALREADY ON THE
BOOKS, $75 MILLION, TO $60
MILLION.
WE DID DECIDE, THE SPEAKER'S
LEADERSHIP, THAT WE WERE GOING
TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM WHICH WE
BELIEVE WORKS.
AT $20 MILLION, IT'S JUST A
FAIRLY LARGE PILOT PROGRAM.
AS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE SO APTLY SAID,
YOU HAVE TO WIN THE LOTTERY,
THERE AREN'T ENOUGH SLOTS.
YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE AREN'T
ENOUGH OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, BUT
UNLIKE WHAT THE GENTLELADY, THE
DELEGATE FROM THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA SAID, WE DON'T HAVE AN
AUTHORITY TO GO OUT AND DO THIS
AS A NATIONAL REFERENDUM.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE DON'T
HAVE THE MONEY.
THIS IS MORE A MATTER OF
SHOWING THE BENEFIT TO STATES
WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT CHOOSE AND
GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO ONE OF
THE WORST SCHOOL SYSTEMS, MOST
FAILED SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE
NATION.
STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA IN MATH AND SCIENCE
AND READING ARE TYPICALLY 51ST
WHEN COMPARED TO THE 50 STATES.
THIS IS IN FACT A DIFFICULT
AREA IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE A
STUDENT IN THIS DISTRICT.
IF YOU'RE LIKE THE PRESIDENT'S
FAMILY OR HIS PREDECESSOR, HIS
PREDECESSOR, IF THEY HAVE
SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, THEY
DON'T GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOL, THEY
GO GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOL.
THAT'S PRETTY WELL-KNOWN.
BUT PRIVATE SCHOOL OFFERS
CHOICE.
OPPORTUNITIES AND IT OFFERS
AND, MR. SPEAKER, THIS $20
MILLION PER YEAR OF SPECIAL
FUNDING FOR OPPORTUNITY
SCHOLARSHIPS IS ALL WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
ONE OF THE SPEAKERS RIGHTFULLY
SO CALLED IT $100 MILLION OVER
FIVE YEARS.
THE DELEGATE FROM THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA CALLED IT $300
MILLION, BUT SHE WAS FORGETTING
THE OTHER $200 MILLION GOES
RIGHT WHERE SHE WANTS IT TO GO.
THE ONLY THING WE'RE DEBATING
OVER FIVE YEARS, WILL $100
MILLION GO TO SCHOLARSHIP THAT
DON'T GO TO UNION SCHOOL
TEACHERS THAT ARE FAILING A
STUDENT IN A SYSTEM THAT IS
FAILING?
WE JUST LOST THE HEAD OF
EDUCATION HERE, MS. REEVE, AND
IN FACT PART OF THE REASON SHE
LEFT IS SHE SAW A NEW
ADMINISTRATION THAT DIDN'T SEEM
TO LIVE UP TO THE HIGH
EXPECTATIONS THAT THE PREVIOUS
ONE DID.
THAT'S A LOCAL MATTER.
RULE.
THAT'S LOCAL CONTROL AND LOCAL
WE'RE NOT PREEMPTING THAT.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO FAIL AND
THEY ARE FAILING.
BUT CONGRESS HAS A RIGHT TO AT
LEAST INTERVENE.
AND IN CLOSING WHAT I WANT THE
SPEAKER TO UNDERSTAND AND
AMERICA TO UNDERSTAND IS IN
1996 WHEN CHARTERED PUBLIC
SCHOOLS WERE AUTHORIZED IN THE
DISTRICT IT WAS AUTHORIZED BY
MY PREDECESSOR ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE, MR. DAVIS.
HE GOT IT IN AND GOT IT FUNDED
AND HE GOT IT MADE LAW OVER THE
OBJECTION AT THAT TIME OF THE
PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT.
WE'VE LOOKED THROUGH OUR
RECORDS AND CAN FIND NO BROAD
SUPPORT FOR THIS MANDATE.
THE DISTRICT DID NOT DO
CHARTERED PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON
THEIR OWN.
THEY DID IT WITH AN ACT OF
CONGRESS, WITH HELP.
I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD TAKE THE
SAME SUGGESTION.
IF THEY WANT TO CHOOSE TO
DISAGREE WITH THE CONSERVATIVE
EXTREME "WASHINGTON POST" SO BE
IT, BUT I THINK THEY HAVE TO
BEGIN TO LOOK AT THEMSELVES
MORE DEEPLY, AT THOSE THAT THEY
ACTUALLY REPRESENT, THOSE WHO
VOTED FOR THEM BUT DID NOT VOTE
TO HAVE THIS MONEY REJECTED.
I URGE STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS
BILL, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE FEW WHO WIN THE LOTTERY,
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
ALL TIME FOR GENERAL DEBATE ON
THIS BILL HAS EXPIRED.
DOES THE GENTLELADY FROM THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SEEK
RECOGNITION?
YES, I HAVE A
DESK.
SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT AT THE
THE
CLERK WILL DESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT IN THE
NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE PRINTED
IN HOUSE REPORT 112-45 OFFERED
BY MS. NORTON OF THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION
186, THE GENTLELADY FROM THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MS.
NORTON, AND A MEMBER OPPOSED,
EACH WILL CONTROL 20 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
COLUMBIA.
GENTLELADY FROM THE DISTRICT OF
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
FIRST OFF, I HAVE TO CORRECT
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THE NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOL
BILL WAS CREATED BY SPEAKER
GINGRICH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
ME.
HE CAME TO ME AND PROPOSED A
VOUCHER BILL.
I ASKED HIM SINCE THE DISTRICT
HAD A LOCAL CHARTER SCHOOL BILL
IF HE WOULD INTRODUCE INSTEAD A
VOUCHER BILL -- A CHARTER BILL.
WE CONSULTED WITH PUBLIC
OFFICIALS, WITH THE SCHOOL
BOARD, WITH CITIZENS.
IT WAS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO
VOUCHERS, AND YOU CAN CHECK
WITH SPEAKER GINGRICH.
NOW, MY HOME -- MY SUBSTITUTE
WOULD REDIRECT THE $300 MILLION
IN H.R. 471, 50% TO THE PUBLIC
CHARTER SCHOOLS, 50% TO THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
IF THE MAJORITY WANTS TO ADD
$300 MILLION TO THE DEFICIT
WITHOUT AN OFFSET, THEN LET IT
AT LEAST BE ON THE BASIS OF
EDUCATIONAL MERIT.
THEN, IT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHICH HAD SHOWN
MAJOR GROWTH.
THE ONLY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
OF THE 18 LARGEST URBAN SCHOOL
SYSTEMS THAT SHOWED SIGNIFICANT
IMPROVEMENTS IN MATH AND
READING OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
IF YOU WANT TO ADD TO THE
DEFICIT, THEN AT LEAST ADD TO
IT BY GIVING MONEY TO OUR
PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS WHICH
OUTDO THE D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AND WAY OUTDO, OF COURSE, THE
VOUCHER SCHOOLS WHICH SHOW NO
IMPROVEMENT.
THE PUBLIC, MIDDLE AND HIGH
SCHOOL SCHOOLS SCORED TWICE AS
HIGH AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN
THE DISTRICT IN MATH AND
READING.
AND THEY HAVE A GRADUATION RATE
25% ABOVE THE D.C. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND 8% ABOVE THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE.
THIS IS WHERE YOU WOULD GIVE
THE MONEY IF YOU HAD ANY
INTEREST IN EDUCATION IN THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA INSTEAD OF
YOUR OWN PAROCHIAL INTEREST IN
MAKING A PETRI DISH OF THE PET
PROJECT OF A FEW MEMBERS IN THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
YOU WOULD LOOK AT OUR PUBLIC
CHARTER SCHOOLS AS THE
ALTERNATIVE TO THE DISTRICT
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
53 CAMPUSES AMOUNTING TO ALMOST
100 DIFFERENT CHARTER SCHOOLS.
ALMOST HALF OF THE CHILDREN OF
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, HOW
DID THEY GET THERE?
THEY VOTED WITH THEIR FEET.
THEY ARE -- I MEAN, LOOK AT
SOME OF THE NAMES OF THESE
SCHOOLS.
WASHINGTON LATIN SCHOOL,
WASHINGTON MATH AND SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY.
I MYSELF APPOINTED TWO STUDENTS
FROM WASHINGTON MATH, SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY TO THE SERVICE
ACADEMY.
EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMY.
HOSPITALITY ACADEMY.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THAT'S A CHARTER SCHOOL.
THE KIP SCHOOLS.
WE GOT FOR OF THEM.
THOSE ARE THE TOP CHARTER
SCHOOLS AND SOME OF THE BEST
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
A FEE RESIDENTIAL, RESIDENTIAL
CHARTER SCHOOLS.
YOU HAVE SOME MONEY, YOU WANT
TO SPEND SOME MONEY?
HERE'S THE PLACE TO SPEND IT.
THE D.C. -- TO SHOW YOU WHAT
KIND OF ALTERNATIVE THIS IS
WITH ALMOST 100 DIFFERENT
SCHOOLS, THEY GOT 19 NEW
SCHOOLS COMING IN 2012.
PEOPLE KEEP COMING DESPITE THE
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTRICT
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A
PRESCHOOL.
THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A
PRESCHOOL CHARTER.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE NEW
HIGH SCHOOLS.
ONE AN ALL-MALE COLLEGE PREP.
ONE THAT FOCUSES ON PUBLIC
SERVICE.
ANOTHER THAT FOCUSES ON MATH
AND SCIENCE.
YOU WANT TO TALK CHOICES, YOU
WANT TO TALK CREATIVE CHOICES,
LOOK AT THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
WE KNOW HOW TO CREATE CHOICES
FOR OURSELVES.
CHOICES THAT OUR PARENTS WANT.
CHOICES THAT OUR PARENTS CREATE
AND PAY FOR BECAUSE THEY WANT
THEIR OWN CHOICES, NOT THE
CHOICES OF THE REPUBLICANS OF
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
IN A DEMOCRACY THE CHOICES OF A
SELF-GOVERNING LOCAL
JURISDICTION TRUMP ALL OTHER
CHOICES, AND ESPECIALLY THE
CHOICES OF MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT
RESPONSIVE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHO DO NOT
HAVE TO STAND FOR ELECTION IN
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, GET A
FREE RIDE AS I DO NOT.
IF YOU INSIST ON ADDING TO THE
DEFICIT, THEN FOR GOODNESS
SAKE, RE-ENFORCE THE HARD WORK
OF OUR OWN PARENTS AND OUR OWN
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, COMMEND
THEM FOR THE DAZZLING ARRAY OF
ALMOST 100 PUBLIC ACCOUNTABLE
CHARTER SCHOOLS THEY HAVE
CREATED.
RELIEVE THEIR LONG WAITING LIST
WHICH NOW CONTAIN THOUSANDS OF
STUDENTS WAITING TO GET INTO
OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DID
NOT APPRECIATE BEING AN
UNWILLING OBJECT OF A
REPUBLICAN EXPERIMENT ONCE WITH
YOUR CAVALIER DEFIANCE OF OUR
CHOICES.
WE LIKE IT MUCH LESS A SECOND
TIME AROUND.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY RESERVES HER TIME.
WHO SEEKS TIME IN OPPOSITION?
I CLAIM TIME IN
OPPOSITION.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 20
MINUTES.
I WANT TO YIELD TO A
GENTLEMAN WHO UNDERSTANDS THE
GENTLELADY'S PASSION.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
IT IS INSTRUCTIVE,
IT IS INFORMATIVE, NOT TO
MENTION IRONIC THAT THERE WERE
OPPONENTS TO THE D.C. CHARTER
SCHOOL SYSTEM JUST LIKE THERE
IS RESISTANCE TO THE
OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM.
INDEED, MR. SPEAKER, SOME OF
THE VERY SAME PEOPLE WHO RISE
TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO THE
OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
AND LAWEDING THE VIRTUES OF THE
D.C. CHARTER SCHOOL SYSTEM ONCE
OPPOSED THAT VERY CHARTER
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE CHARTER SCHOOL SYSTEM IS A
SUCCESS.
I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
JUST AS THE OPPORTUNITY
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS A
SUCCESS.
THEY ARE BOTH SUCCESSFUL
BECAUSE THE PARENTS IN THE
CHOICE.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WANT
I HATE TO BE REDUNDANT.
I DON'T WANT TO BE THE DEAD
HORSE -- I DON'T WANT TO BEAT
THE DEAD HORSE, ALTHOUGH IT'S
OK FOR THE HORSE TO RETURN TO
THE EVIDENCE AND THE EVIDENCE
PROVES BEYOND A REASONABLE
DOUBT BEYOND ANY REASONABLE,
STATISTICAL MEASUREMENT THE
PARENTS WANT THIS PROGRAM, THE
STUDENTS WANT THIS PROGRAM, THE
COMMUNITY WANT THIS PROGRAM,
EVEN SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS
WANT THIS PROGRAM.
THEY DON'T HAPPEN TO BE ONES WE
HEARD FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE TODAY.
READING SCORES ARE UP.
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT IS UP.
GRADUATION RATES ARE UP.
IT BEARS REPEATING AGAIN, THERE
IS A MYRIAD OF MALADIES THAT
ARE CONNECTED TO THE DROPOUT
RATE IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND IF ALL WE DO IS GET KIDS TO
GRADUATE, IT IS WORTH IT FOR
THIS PROGRAM ALONE IF THEY JUST
GET KIDS TO GRADUATE.
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL, MR.
SPEAKER, MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT
THIS, MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT
THIS, OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL
IS POLITICAL AND NOT FACTUAL.
AND I'LL SAY THAT BECAUSE
18-YEAR-OLDS IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA CAN TAKE FEDERAL
DOLLARS AND THEY CAN GO TO
NOTRE DAME AND B.Y.U. AND THEY
CAN GO TO STANFORD AND THEY CAN
GO TO BAYLOR AND THEY CAN GO TO
RICE.
SO WHY DO WITH -- WE OPPOSE
FEDERAL DOLLARS HELPING
17-YEAR-OLDS?
LET THAT SINK IN.
18-YEAR-OLDS CAN TAKE FEDERAL
DOLLARS AND GO TO WHATEVER
PRIVATE SCHOOL THEY WANT TO BUT
17-YEAR-OLDS CAN'T TAKE FEDERAL
DOLLARS AND GO TO ANY HIGH
SCHOOL.
EXPLAIN TO ME THAT DISTINCTION.
MY COLLEAGUE FROM THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA IS A PASSIONATE,
ZEALOUS ADVOCATE FOR HER
CONSTITUENTS, AND I COMMEND HER
FOR THAT.
GENUINELY COMMEND HER FOR HER
PASSION AND HER ZEAL IN
REPRESENTING HER CONSTITUENTS.
BUT EVEN HER PASSION IS NO
MATCH FOR THE PASSION OF
PARENTS WHO HOPE FOR A BETTER
FUTURE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
EVEN HER PASSION CANNOT MATCH
THE PASSION OF THE PARENTS WHO
CAME TO TESTIFY BEFORE OUR
SUBCOMMITTEE THAT THIS IS A
LIFELINE, THIS IS A ONCE IN A
GENERATION OPPORTUNITY.
AND FOR US TO SAY NO TO THE
OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
BECAUSE OF PURE RAW POLITICS IS
WRONG.
AND I WOULD OPPOSE THIS
AMENDMENT, AND I WOULD ASK MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE
OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLELADY FROM THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA.
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD
THREE MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MARYLAND, THE RANKING --
RANKING MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IS RECOGNIZED FOR
HE -- THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
LET ME JUST SAY THIS, THE LAST
SPEAKER SAID SOMETHING THAT I
FOUND VERY OFFENSIVELY WHEN HE
SAID IT'S ABOUT RAW GUTTER
POLITICS.
I PERSONALLY RESENT THAT.
AND THE REASON WHY I RESENT IT
IS BECAUSE IT SENDS A WRONG
MESSAGE WHAT IT'S FOR.
WE CAN HAVE DISAGREEMENTS BUT
THIS IS NOT ABOUT RAW GUTTER
POLITICS.
THIS IS ABOUT STANDING UP FOR
EVERY CHILD.
I'VE SAID IT OVER AND OVER AND
OVER AGAIN.
AND I AS A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND MY CHILDREN WHO HAVE
GONE TO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I'VE SAT ON A
CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD AND LIVING
IN AN AREA IN BALTIMORE WHERE
THE -- WHERE "THE WIRE" IS
FILMED, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS
IS NOT ABOUT RAW GUTTER
POLITICS.
THIS IS ABOUT THE POLITICS OF
LIFTING CHILDREN UP SO THEY CAN
BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
AND I'VE SAID IT IN COMMITTEE
AND I'LL SAY IT OVER AND OVER
AGAIN.
THERE'S NOT ONE MEMBER OF THIS
-- ON THIS SIDE WHO DOES NOT
CARE ABOUT EVERY SINGLE CHILD.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS
PROGRAM, THIS VOUCHER PROGRAM,
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED
TO CONSIDER IS WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ALSO
TALKING ABOUT A CHARTER SCHOOL
PROGRAM WITH OVER $27,000 AND
COUNTING AND THAT AFFECTS A LOT
MORE PEOPLE.
AS MANY KIDS AS POSSIBLE.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS HELP
YOU TALK ABOUT THE GRADUATION
RATES, THE GRADUATION RATES FOR
THE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE BETTER
THAN THIS VOUCHER PROGRAM
GRADUATION RATES.
AND SO WHAT DO WE TRY TO DO?
WE NEED TO BE TRYING TO ADDRESS
THINGS IN A MOST EFFECTIVE AND
EFFICIENT MANNER.
AND SO IT'S EASY TO TALK ABOUT
GUTTER POLITICS, BUT WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT IS TRYING TO HELP
EVERY CHILD.
YOU TALK ALSO ABOUT HOW WE CAN
TAKE THIS MONEY, CHILDREN CAN
COLLEGE AND GO TO VARIOUS
TAKE THIS MONEY WHEN THEY GET TO
PLACES, COLLEGES, AND YOU'RE
RIGHT.
BUT THE FACT IS THAT WHEN YOU
JUST VOTED IN H.R. 1 TO SLASH
$845 PER YEAR AND I SEE STUDENTS
EVERY YEAR, THE BOARD I SAT ON,
THE COLLEGE BOARD IN BALTIMORE,
WHERE KIDS FOR $845, THAT $845
WOULD CAUSE KIDS NOT TO BE ABLE
TO ATTEND COLLEGE, PERIOD.
SO IT'S NICE TO LIFT THEM UP AND
SAY, FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T GIVE
THEM -- WE CUT OFF MONEY FROM
THE HEAD START SO THEY CAN'T GET
THE HEAD START.
WE WANT CHILDREN TO EVEN GET TO
THE POINT OF BEING ABLE TO BE IN
A POSITION TO GO TO HIGH SCHOOL.
WE ALSO WANT -- BUT THEN AFTER
THEY GET OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND
IT IS NOT ABOUT GUTTER POLITICS,
AFTER WE GET OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE THE
NECESSARY FUNDING TO GO FORWARD.
AND SO I DON'T CONSIDER WHAT THE
OTHER SIDE IS SAYING ONE BIT.
MAY I HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE,
PLEASE, MA'AM?
JUST ONE MINUTE.
I'M PLEASED TO GIVE
THE GENTLEMAN ANOTHER MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
LET ME BE CLEAR.
I DO NOT CONSIDER IT GUTTER
POLITICS FOR THE OTHER SIDE TO
ARGUE WHAT IT'S ARGUING.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE
PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES AND
THAT'S OK.
AND WE WILL DIFFER AND I HAVE
NEVER, NOT ONCE, AND I DON'T
THINK ANYBODY ON THIS SIDE HAS
NOT ONCE SAID THAT WE DON'T ALL
WANT TO LIFT OUR CHILDREN UP.
THAT'S WHAT AMERICA'S ALL ABOUT.
THAT'S HOW WE BECAME THE GREAT
COUNTRY THAT WE ARE.
FOR EVERY CHILD AND AGAIN I SAY
IT, THE WORSE THING, THE
GREATEST THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY IS OUR FAILURE TO
PROPERLY EDUCATE EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF OUR CHILDREN.
LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND.
AND WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I'D LIKE TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR. WAL
MUCH -- MR. WALSH.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
SPEAKER, AND THANK YOU, MR.
WHAT ARE THEY AFRAID OF?
WHAT ARE MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, MR.
SPEAKER, AFRAID OF?
LET ME SECOND MY COLLEAGUE FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA RESPECTFULLY.
IT IS ABOUT RAW GUTTER POLITICS.
RESPECTFULLY, MY COLLEAGUE FROM
MARYLAND TALKS ABOUT STANDING UP
FOR EVERY CHILD.
HELPING EVERY CHILD.
WHAT ARE THEY AFRAID OF?
WHY WON'T THEY HELP EVERY SINGLE
CHILD?
AND IT IS POLITICS.
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE
CAN DANCE AROUND ANY RATIONALE
THEY WANT TO DANCE AROUND.
THE EVIDENCE ON THIS ISSUE,
WE'RE BEYOND IT.
WE ARE BEYOND HAVING TO DEBATE
EMPOWERING PARENTS.
WE'RE PAST THAT.
SO WHAT RESPECTFULLY ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE IS
CAUSING MY COLLEAGUES TO BE
AGAINST EMPOWERING, AND I'LL
EMPHASIZE THE WORD, EVERY, EVERY
PARENT?
MY COLLEAGUE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
SAYS -- NO, RESPECTFULLY, NO.
MY COLLEAGUE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
RESPECTFULLY SAID RAW GUTTER
POLITICS BECAUSE MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE OTHER SIDE ARE SCARED TO
DEATH OF OFFENDING THE TEACHERS
UNIONS.
AND, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND,
MR. SPEAKER, THE TEACHERS UNIONS
ARE SCARED TO DEATH OF THIS
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM BECAUSE LOOK
OUT, IF THIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
DEMONSTRATES SUCCESS, AND IT
HAS, IT WILL BE MODELED ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY.
AND THAT RESPECTFULLY IS WHAT
SCARES THE TEACHERS UNIONS,
BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT KIDS TO
BE ABLE TO ESCAPE.
AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
SIDE WILL ANSWER, WILL ANSWER TO
WHAT THEY WANT.
THAT'S THE POLITICS THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POWER.
THE POWER SHOULD GO TO THE
PARENTS.
PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
EVERY PARENT.
CHARTER SCHOOL, PUBLIC SCHOOL,
HOME SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, YOU
NAME IT.
THAT'S WHERE THE POWER SHOULD
I YIELD BACK.
LIE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA.
HOW MUCH TIME
REMAINS?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA HAS 10 1/2 MINUTES
REMAINING AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA HAS 14 1/2 MINUTES
--
REMAINING.
TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO
DIDN'T HAVE THE NERVE TO YIELD
TO ME, THIS BILL, THIS BILL OF
COURSE --
MR. SPEAKER.
POINT OF ORDER.
THIS BILL --
MR. SPEAKER, POINT OF
ORDER.
THIS BILL, THIS BILL
--
THE
GENTLELADY WILL SUSPEND.
THE GENTLEMAN WILL KINDLY STATE
HIS POINT OF ORDER.
ISN'T IT TRUE THAT THE
HOUSE RULES PROHIBIT DIRECT
ACCUSATIONS ABOUT THE INTENT OR
THE PERSONAL FEATURES OF
SOMEBODY OR IN FACT WHETHER OR
NOT THEY HAVE NERVE?
THE
CHAIR IS NOT GOING TO RESPOND TO
A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO
TAKE DOWN THE GENTLELADY'S WORDS
BECAUSE IT IS TOO SHORT A PERIOD
OF TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
THE SPEAKER BEFORE
THE LAST SPEAKER WANTED TO KNOW
WHAT THE OFFENSE WAS.
THE OFFENSE IS FOR THE WHOLE
PREROGATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TO DECIDE
ON EDUCATIONAL CHOICES FOR THEIR
OWN CHILDREN.
THAT'S WHAT THE OFFENSE IS.
NOW I'M PLEASED TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE DISTINGUISHED
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, MR.
ANDREWS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I THANK MY DEAR FRIEND FROM THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FOR
YIELDING.
ONE OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS
SAID THAT HE WANTED TO EMPOWER
THE PARENTS OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
I AGREE.
I THINK WE SHOULD EMPOWER THE
PARENTS OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA TO ELECT A
REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS A VOTE IN
THIS CHAMBER.
WHY DON'T WE START WITH THAT?
THE IRONY OF THE PROPOSITION
THAT THIS BILL IS ALLEGEDLY
ABOUT EMPOWERMENT OF ADULTS IN
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND
THEIR CHILDREN COMES FROM PEOPLE
WHO I ASSUME WOULD RESIST THE
NOTION THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
SHOULD HAVE A VOTE IN THIS
CHAMBER.
AND LET ME BRING UP SOME VERY
RECENT HISTORY.
UNDER OUR MAJORITY, VOTES IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WERE IN
FACT AFFORDED TO THE GENTLELADY
FROM THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW
MAJORITY IT REPEALED HER RIGHT
AND THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS FROM
THE TERRITORIES TO VOTE ON
MATTERS IN THE COMMITTEES OF THE
WHOLE.
TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
THERE IS ONE ISSUE IN THIS BILL.
IS TYRANNY.
DECISION MAKING WITHOUT
REPRESENTATION IS WRONG.
THE DULY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA SUPPORTS THIS AMENDMENT
AND OPPOSES THIS BILL.
SO DO I, FOR THAT RAN -- REASON.
I WOULD SUGGEST, MR. SPEAKER,
THAT TOMORROW WE SHOULD CONSIDER
A BILL RE-ORGANIZING THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.
BECAUSE WE HAD JUST ABOUT AS
MUCH PREROGATIVE TO DO THAT AS
WE DO THIS.
SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT, DEFEAT
I YIELD BACK.
THE UNDERLYING BILL.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AND AS THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA GOES TO THE DAIS, WE
SHOULD BEAR IN MIND THAT HOME
RULE IS NOT THE RIGHT OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TO RULE
PEOPLE'S PRIVATE HOMES AND HOW
THEIR CHILDREN.
THEY MAKE THEIR CHOICES FOR
WITH THAT I WOULD YIELD THREE
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
AND THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF H.R.
471, THE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
AND RESULTS ACT AND AGAINST THE
NORTON AMENDMENT.
YOU KNOW, COMING FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA, FOR EIGHT YEARS IN THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WE DEBATED THE
POSITIVE BENEFITS OF SCHOOL
CHOICE.
I'VE HEARD EVERY ARGUMENT.
BUT WHAT I HAVE SEEN PRIOR TO
2009 IS THAT HERE IN D.C. SCHOOL
CHOICE WAS A MODEL FOR THE
NATION AS A VERY SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAM.
WE'VE SEEN THE
POSITIVE IMPACT OF INJECTING
FREE MARKET PRINCIPLES INTO AN
EDUCATION SYSTEM HERE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
WE'VE SEEN THOUSANDS OF
STUDENTS' LIVES CHANGE.
WE'VE SEEN THEM LIONEL UP FOR A
CHANGE AS -- CHANCE -- LINE UP
FOR A CHANCE AT A BETTER LIFE SO
THEY CAN ESCAPE A FAILING SCHOOL
AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
BECAUSE ALL STUDENTS LEARN
DIFFERENTLY.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE EMPOWER
PATIENTS AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S
ABOUT, EMPOWERING PARENTS TO
MAKE CHOICES FOR THE EDUCATION
OF THEIR CHILDREN.
GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE
THE BEST EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
FOR THEIR CHILD, WHETHER IT'S
PUBLIC, CHARTER, PRIVATE OR HOME
SCHOOL.
NEITHER THE STATE NOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KNOWS WHAT'S
BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WE DO AS PARENTS.
PARENTS KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR
THEIR CHILDREN AND PARENTS AND
TEACHERS SHOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM
TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND AND
CREATE MOTIVATING LEARNING
ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY
FOR EVERY CHILD TO SUCCEED.
THIS BILL RESTORES TO THE
PARENTS THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE
RIGHT CHOICES, THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION, THE PREVIOUS
CONGRESS, STRIPPED AWAY AND IT
PROVIDES AN ESCAPE FROM THE
FAILED BUREAUCRACY SYSTEM OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMN --
BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
THIS BILL BRINGS MORE
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
TO THE PROGRAM, RAISES THE
SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS FOR BOTH
ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA SAYS AND CAPS THE
ADMINISTRATIVE COST.
THIS BILL TAKES A SUCCESSFUL
BETTER.
PROGRAM AND MAKES IT EVEN
AND DOES SO WITHOUT SPENDING NEW
TAXPAYER DOLLARS OR GROWING THE
SIZE OF GOVERNMENT.
IN FACT, SCHOOL CHOICE SAVES THE
GOVERNMENT MONEY WHILE PROVIDING
A BETTER EDUCATION FOR THE
CHILDREN.
IT'S MY HOPE, MR. SPEAKER, THAT
OTHER STATES WILL FOLLOW SUIT,
EVEN AS SCHOOL CHOICE FOR
WORKING AMERICAN STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WE
HAVE ALSO SEEN ITS EFFECTIVENESS
IN STATE IT'S LIKE PENNSYLVANIA,
ARIZONA, GEORGIA, MILWAUKEE,
WISCONSIN, FLORIDA, WHERE THE
ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN WHITE
STUDENTS AND MINORITIES IS
DISAPPEARING.
MY HOME STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
IS DEBATING SCHOOL CHOICE RIGHT
NOW IN THEIR LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.
CREATING A BILL THAT WOULD
EXPAND EDUCATIONAL CHOICES AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL CHILDREN
ACROSS MY HOME STATE AND I URGE
MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES IN SOUTH
CAROLINA TO GET THE JOB DONE AND
PASS THAT LEGISLATION.
LET ME THANK THE SPEAKER OF THE
HOUSE FOR INTRODUCING THIS BILL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
PA RENTAL CHOICE ON BEHALF OF
WASHINGTON, D.C.'S, FAMILIES AND
STUDENTS WHO DEMAND EFFECTIVE
SCHOOLS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUE TO VOTE NO
ON THE NORTON AMENDMENT AND YES
ON THE SORE ACT AND I YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA.
THE GENTLEMAN CITED
A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THAT HE SAID
CHOICE HAD HELPED.
THERE IS NO DATA SHOWING THAT
CHOICE SCHOOLS AND THERE HAVE
BEEN A FEW IN THE UNITED STATES,
HAVE EVER SCORED BETTER THAN
CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND SINCE MILWAUKEE WAS
MENTIONED, LET ME INDICATE SOME
NEWS THAT HAD JUST COME OUT
RESULTS FROM THE FIRST
TODAY.
ADMINISTRATION STATEWIDE EXAMS,
THE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN
THE MILWAUKEE PA RENTAL CHOICE
PROGRAM SHOWED LOWER ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENT IN CHOICE SCHOOLS
THAN PERFORMANCE BY STUDENTS
ATTENDING MILWAUKEE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
THE RESULT ALSO SHOWS THAT THE
MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN --
AND CHOICE SCHOOLS HAVE
SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER ACHIEVEMENT
THAN THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE.
BUT HERE YOU HAVE A BIG CITY
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT'S
DOING BETTER THAN THE CHOICE
SCHOOLS AND THAT IS WHAT THE
DATA SHOWS ALL OVER THE UNITED
STATES, INCLUDING THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA, WHERE THE BUSH
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SPECIFICALLY FOUND THAT THE
CHILDREN IN THE VOUCHER SCHOOLS
DID NOT SHOW SIGNIFICANT
IMPROVEMENTS IN MATH AND READING
SCORES.
I HAVE DETAILED HERE THIS
AFTERNOON SIGNIFICANT
IMPROVEMENT OF THE D.C. PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, THE ONLY URBAN SCHOOL
SYSTEM THAT HAS IN FACT SHOWN
SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT IN MATH
AND SCIENCE AND PARTICULARLY
DAZZLING RESULTS IN THE D.C.
CHARTER SCHOOLS.
MR. CHAIRMAN -- MR. SPEAKER, I
DON'T HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS,
SO I AM -- I RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN RESERVES THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME IT'S MY HONOR TO
YIELD TO MY DISTINGUISHED
COLLEAGUE FROM INDIANA, MR.
PENCE, FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
I THANK THE DISTINGUISHED
SPEAKER.
CHAIRMAN FOR YIELDING AND FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE
WHICH IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY
HEART.
AS IT IS TO THE HEARTS OF
THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF
FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
I ALSO RISE IN OPPOSITION TO
THE NORTON FUNDING AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLELADY KNOWS, SHE AND I
WORKED TOGETHER ON OCCASION ON
ISSUES.
I KNOW HER DEVOTION TO THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, BUT WE
JUST HAVE TO RESPECTFUL LOEDIS
AGREE ON THIS ISSUE.
-- RESPECTFUL LOEDISAGREE ON
THIS ISSUE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE SCHOLARSHIPS
FOR OPPORTUNITIES ACT
REPRESENTS THE CONTINUATION OF
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
PROGRAMS THAT I HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF BEING A PART OF IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
NOW, THERE'S A SUGGESTION THAT
THIS LEGISLATION TAKES MONEY
AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I THINK BECAUSE OF THE
BY THE ORIGINAL AUTHORIZED
THREE-SECTOR APPROACH CREATED
LEGISLATION, DISTRICT PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS
RECEIVED A QUARTER OF A BILLION
DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL DIRECT
FEDERAL PAYMENT SINCE 2004,
BOTH DCPS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS
WILL GET INCREASED FEDERAL
DUNDS UNDER THIS -- DOLLARS
UNDER THIS LEGISLATION.
GIVING STUDENT AND PARENTS MORE
CHOICES BECAUSE IT DENIES
FUNDING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS DON'T
EVEN ATTACH HERE ON THE FACTS.
BUT BEYOND THAT, LET ME -- LET
ME SAY THE REASON WHY I FELT
THE NEED TO COME TO THE FLOOR
TODAY, THE REASON WHY I SO
RESPECT SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER'S
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE IS
BECAUSE OF MEETINGS I HAD IN MY
OFFICE WITH OFTENTIMES THE
TEARY-EYED PARENTS OF CHILDREN
IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
I'LL NEVER FORGET LAST YEAR
MEETING WITH MOMS AND DADS FROM
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MOST
OF THEM FROM THE MINORITY
COMMUNITY, WHO CAME TO ME WITH
TEARS IN THEIR EYES AND SAID, I
HAVE ONE CHILD THAT IS IN
PRIVATE SCHOOL.
I WAS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE D.C. SCHOLARSHIP.
BUT BECAUSE THIS ADMINISTRATION
IN THE LAST CONGRESS TERMINATED
IT, I CANNOT GIVE THAT OTHER
OPPORTUNITY TO THEIR YOUNGER
BROTHER OR SISTER.
AND THEY LITERALLY CAME TO ME
AT THAT TIME -- I WAS IN A
LEADERSHIP POSITION IN THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY AND SAID,
PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
AND MY HEART WENT OUT TO THOSE
FAMILIES.
AND WE HAD AN ELECTION, AND NOW
WE FIND OURSELVES IN A RENEWED
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, AND THE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES TODAY IS A MAN
WHO PROBABLY HAS A LARGER HEART
FOR KIDS AS A FORMER CHAIRMAN
OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE THAN
MAYBE ANY OTHER FORMER SPEAKER
IN THE HISTORY OF THIS
INSTITUTION.
AND SO WE FIND OURSELVES AT
THIS MOMENT WHEN I CAN SAY WITH
NO SMALL AMOUNT OF EMOTION, I
CAN SAY TO THOSE FAMILIES, YES,
WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS
SCHOLARSHIP BACK, WE'RE GOING
TO SAY TO THE REST OF YOUR
CHILDREN THAT THEY DESERVE THE
BEST CHOICE FOR THEIR EDUCATION
AL FUTURE AS WELL.
AND IT'S A NOBLE MOMENT FOR
THIS CONGRESS.
YOU KNOW, THE OLD BOOK TELLS US
THAT WHATEVER YOU DO FOR THE
LEAST OF THESE THAT YOU DO FOR
HIM.
I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE
MOMENTS WHERE WE LOOK AT
FAMILIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING
UNDER THE WEIGHT OF SOME OF THE
MOST BELEAGUERED PUBLIC SCHOOLS
IN AMERICA AND WE'RE PUTTING
OUR ARMS AROUND THOSE FAMILIES
SAYING WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU
MORE CHOICES, WE ARE GOING TO
LET YOU AS PARENTS, REGARDLESS
OF YOUR RACE OR INCOME OR
STATUS IN SOCIETY, WE'RE GOING
TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY THE
SAME CHOICE FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL
AS A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND A
PUBLIC SCHOOL AND CHARTER
SCHOOL AS AMERICANS WHO HAVE
THE MEANS TO DO SO CAN MAKE.
AND LET ME ALSO SAY I SEE THIS
DEBATE OVER EDUCATIONAL CHOICE,
WHETHER IT'S IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA OR IN MY OWN BELOVED
INDIANA.
AS ALL TIED UP IN THE DEBATE
OVER EDUCATION REFORM THAT HAS
BEEN MANIFESTED THROUGHOUT THIS
COUNTRY OVER THE LAST HALF
CENTURY AND MORE, I MEAN, THERE
WAS A DAY ALMOST IN MY
LIFETIME, JUST ON THE PERIPHERY
OF MY LIFETIME WHEN SOME STOOD
IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE DOOR AND
SAID YOU MAY NOT COME IN.
BUT WE FIXED THAT AS A NATION.
AND NOW THERE ARE SOME IN THE
MASSIVE EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT
IN THIS COUNTRY WHO STAND IN
THE SCHOOLHOUSE DOOR AND SAY
YOU MAY NOT COME OUT, YOU MAY
NOT HAVE THE SAME CHOICES THAT
OTHER AMERICANS HAVE SIMPLY
BECAUSE OF YOUR MEANS AND YOUR
CONDITION IN LIFE.
THE SCHOLARSHIP FOR OPPORTUNITY
RESULTS ACT LEVELS THE PLAYING
FIELD.
I YIELD THE GENTLEMAN
30 SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30
SECONDS.
THE SORE ACT OPENS
THE SCHOOLHOUSE DOOR.
IT REOPENS THE DOOR FOR
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE
FAMILIES AND FOR THEIR CHILDREN
IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
AND I BELIEVE IT WAS BEFORE A
MODEL FOR THE NATION AND IT CAN
BE SO AGAIN.
AND SO I ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN
RESPECTFULLY OPPOSING THE
NORTON FUNDING AMENDMENT BUT
VIGOROUSLY SUPPORTING H.R. 471.
LET'S STAND WITH THOSE FAMILIES
, LET'S PUT JOY IN THEIR HEARTS
, LET'S CREATE A BOUNDLESS
FUTURE FOR THEIR CHILDREN,
LET'S PASS THE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR
OPPORTUNITY AND RESULTS ACT.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
I RESPECT MY GOOD
FRIEND.
I GOT TO STAND FOR AND WITH THE
PEOPLE I REPRESENT.
IF THE GENTLEMAN WANTS TO PUT
JOY IN THE HEARTS OF MY
PARENTS, I SAY PUT JOY IN THE
PARTIES OF HIS BELOVED INDIANA,
AS HE SAID, BY BRINGING A
NATIONAL VOUCHERS BILL TO THE
FLOOR SO SOME OF THEM MAY HAVE
CHOICE THAT WE DID NOT ASK FOR.
I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND, THE RANKING MEMBER OF
THE COMMITTEE, TWO MINUTES.
TWO
MARYLAND.
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
AS I LISTENED TO OUR LAST
SPEAKER TALK ABOUT TEARY-EYED
PARENTS, WELL, GUESS WHAT, I
SEE TEARY-EYED PARENTS WHO WANT
TO PUT THEIR KIDS IN HEAD
START.
I JUST SAW THEM LAST WEEK AT A
TOWN HALL MEETING.
H.R. 1 SLASHES OVER $1 BILLION
FROM HEAD START.
THEY'RE IN TEARS TOO.
GUESS WHAT?
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY AND IN
MY DISTRICT, BY THE WAY, A
TOTAL OF 20,000 KIDS WILL NOT
GET PELL GRANTS OR HAVE -- AND
GET $4,500 SLASHED FROM PELL
GRANTS.
THEY'RE IN TEARS.
YOU KNOW WHY?
THEY'LL DROP OUT OF SCHOOL AND
MANY OF THEM WILL NOT RETURN TO
SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE
THE MONEY.
THEY'RE IN TEARS TOO.
AND I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART
THAT THE SPEAKER'S INTENTIONS
ARE GOOD.
YOU ALL HEAR ME SAY THAT.
TO THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.
BUT I SAY AGAIN I AM TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE TAKE THE
DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE AND SPEND
THEM IN A MOST EFFECTIVE AND
EFFICIENT MANNER?
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE
LEAST OF THESE, I REALLY WANT
TO GET THAT HEAD START THAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT.
FOR THE LIFE OF ME, MAYBE I'M
MISSING SOMETHING, I DON'T SEE
HOW ON THE ONE HAND WE TALK
ABOUT THESE CHILDREN THAT WE
LOVE AND HOW WE WANT TO EMBRACE
THEM AND HOW WE WANT TO EMBRACE
THEIR PARENTS AND BRING JOY TO
THEIR HEARTS BUT THEN TAKE AWAY
THE VERY MONEY THAT WOULD ALLOW
THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WHERE
THEY GOT TO GO.
I MEAN -- AND SO -- AND YOU'RE
RIGHT THAT MANY DID -- THERE
WAS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE COULD
NOT GET IN THAT SCHOOLHOUSE
DOOR ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.
MY PARENTS, THEY WOULD BE
RIDING THE BUS -- THEY WOULD BE
WALKING TO SCHOOL FOR FOUR
MILES AND OTHER KIDS WOULD GO
RIDING THE BUS SPITTING ON
THEM.
MAY I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 30
SECONDS?
PLEASE TO GIVE THE
GENTLEMAN 30 SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30
SECONDS.
AND SO THEY
WEREN'T ABLE TO GET AN
EDUCATION.
SO ALL I'M SAYING TO YOU,
SAYING TO YOU, MR. SPEAKER,
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT, YOU
KNOW, LET'S EMBRACE ALL OUR
KIDS.
YOU KNOW, I WANT FOR MY
COLLEAGUES' KIDS, MR. SPEAKER,
THE SAME THING I WOULD WANT FOR
MINE.
AND THIS PROGRAM AFFECTS ABOUT
1,000 KIDS.
JUST IN CHARTER KIDS, THERE'S
OVER 20,000 IN THE DISTRICT.
SO I WOULD JUST SPORT THE
GENTLELADY'S AMENDMENT AND I
YIELD BACK.
-- JUST SUPPORT THE THE
GENTLELADY'S AMENDMENT AND I
YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
CAN I INQUIRE HOW
MUCH TIME REMAINS?
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA HAS
10 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING.
THE GENTLELADY FROM THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAS 3 1/2
MINUTES.
I YIELD MYSELF A
MINUTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, MAYBE WE
SHOULD JUST LIGHTEN UP A LITTLE
BIT.
YOU KNOW, YOGI BERRA APPARENTLY
IT'S TOO CROWDED, WHEN
SAID NOBODY GOES THERE ANYMORE.
REFERRING TO A RESTAURANT THAT
HAD LONG LINES TO GET IN.
MR. SPEAKER, WE'RE FINDING A
WAY TO SAY A PROGRAM ISN'T GOOD
BECAUSE IT HAS LONG LINES
WAITING TO GET IN.
AND ODDLY ENOUGH WHEN IT COMES
TO THE CHARTERED PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, IT HAD BEEN LAWEDED ON
A BIPARTISAN BASIS HERE, THEY,
TOO, HAVE NO FREE RIGHTS TO
AUTOMATICALLY GO AND THEY HAVE
LINES.
PERHAPS WHAT WE SHOULD BE
ASKING IS -- ON A BIPARTISAN
BASIS, WHAT COULD WE DO TO
REDUCE THE LINES TO BOTH, TO
PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ALL
THE CHILDREN OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA, AND I WILL SAY ONE
THING, AND MAYBE A YOGI
BERRA-TYPE WAY, IF THE
DEMOCRATS WILL COME HALFWAY TO
THE CENTER OF THE AISLE TO TALK
ABOUT HOW WE CAN HIT A
REASONABLE NUMBER FOR SPENDING,
I WILL PUT EVERYTHING ON THE
TABLE, AT LEAST TO MY VOTE, TO
MEET THEM AT THE HALF.
ALL PROGRAMS ARE SO NEEDY THEY
CAN'T BE CUT AND COMPLAIN EVEN
WHEN WE PRESERVE A PROGRAM, I
CAN'T DO IT.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
DISTRICT.
THE GENTLELADY FROM THE
THE RESIDENTS OF
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SEE A
PATTERN HERE.
THE MAJORITY, AGAIN, BY TAKING
AWAY MY VOTE IN THE COMMITTEE
OF THE WHOLE SO I CAN'T VOTE ON
ANY PART OF THIS BILL THIS
AFTERNOON.
THEN, THEY TAKE -- TRY TO TAKE
AWAY THE NEEDLE EXCHANGE THAT
TEACH ***-AIDS FROM BEING
SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA.
NOW, THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO
TAKE AWAY THE CHOICE OF
LOW-INCOME WOMEN IN TWO PLACES
OF LOW-INCOME WOMEN, IN H.R. 1
AND H.R. 3.
THEY INTRODUCED A BILL TO PUT
THEIR VERSION OF GUN LAWS ON
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
ALTHOUGH THE COURTS HAVE FOUND
OUR NEW GUN LAWS TO BE
CONSTITUTIONAL.
THIS MORNING WE HEAR THAT
THEY'RE COMING FORWARD YET
AGAIN WITH MORE TO DO TO THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHEN THEY
-- WHEN THEY SAY THEY WANT TO
ERASE MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL.
NOW, THEY SAY -- AFTER TAKING
ALL OF THAT FROM YOU, WE HAVE
SOMETHING FOR YOU, SOMETHING
YOU NEVER ASKED FOR.
VOUCHERS INSTEAD OF FUNDING,
PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.
IN WE KNOW YOU FUND THE CHARTER
SCHOOLS AS WELL.
YOU -- IF YOU WANT TO FUND
SOMETHING, FUND WHAT WE WANT,
NOT WHAT YOU WANT.
AND IF YOU WANT IT, BRING
YOURSELF A NATIONAL BILL RIGHT
TO THE FLOOR.
I CAN UNDERSTAND REPUBLICANS
VOTING AGAINST MY SUBSTITUTE.
THEY WILL ARGUE PERHAPS THAT IT
ADDS TO THE DEFICIT.
BUT IF YOU VOTE AGAINST MY
SUBSTITUTE, THEN I DON'T SEE
HOW YOU CAN VOTE FOR 471,
BECAUSE IT CERTAIN ADDS TO THE
DEFICIT TOO.
AND YOU WILL BE VOTING FOR YOUR
CHOICE, NOT OURS.
MANY OF YOU HAVE COME UNDER THE
BANNER OF LIBERTY, GETTING THE
FOUGHT OUT OF EVEN FEDERAL
MATTERS.
NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO GET INTO A
PURELY LOCAL MATTER INVOLVING
OUR CHILDREN AND OUR LOCAL
SCHOOLS.
IF THIS WERE YOUR DISTRICT
YOU'D ASK US TO DEFER TO YOU.
I'M ASKING YOU TO DEFER TO OUR
PREFERENCES.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ASKS
TO BE TREATED EXACTLY AS YOU
WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED, AS
FREE AND EQUAL CITIZENS OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NOT
AS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS, NOT
AS CHILDREN AND CERTAINLY NOT
AS THE COLONIAL SUBJECTS OF THE
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
THE CHAIR WILL REMIND THOSE TO
DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE
CHAIR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER
-- MR. SPEAKER.
IN CLOSING WE WON'T FUND FAILURE
IN CLOSING WE WON'T FUND FAILURE
FROM THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS.
YES WE'RE GIVING ADDITIONAL
MONEY TO THE FAILED PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, YES WE'RE GIVING
ADDITIONAL MONEY TO A CHARTERED
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT TRIES
VALIANTLY TO HELP THOSE CHILDREN
TRAPPED IN THOSE FAILED PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
AND YES WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A
CONTINUED SMALL INVESTMENT IN
CHILDREN HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY
TO FIND OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
JUST AS WE DO WHEN CHILDREN A
LITTLE OLDER GET TO GO TO
GEORGETOWN OR CATHOLIC
UNIVERSITY, WITH PELL GRANTS
THAT IN FACT GO TO THESE
PAROCHIAL COLLEGES.
THE MAJORITY A YEAR AGO HAD
PLANNED ON SIMPLY GIVING IT ALL
TO UNION SCHOOLS.
TO GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS.
BECAUSE THE PARTY OF GOVERNMENT
WAS IN CHARGE.
MR. SPEAKER, AN ELECTION MADE A
DIFFERENCE.
WE CONSIDER OURSELVES AND WE TRY
VALIANTLY ON THIS SIDE OF THE
AISLE TO BE THE PARTY OF THE
PEOPLE.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE SMALL
AMOUNT OF MONEY TO EMPOWER
PEOPLE, PARENTS, TO DO SOMETHING
THEY CHOOSE AND THEY STAND IN
LINES IN, IN LOTTERIES, AS THE
OTHER SIDE HAS SAID, TO ESCAPE
THOSE SCHOOLS AND HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY WITH SCHOLARSHIPS.
AND CLEAR AND ALTHOUGH THE
WE BELIEVE THEY HAVE SPOKEN LOUD
DELEGATE WILL TALK ABOUT
ELECTIONS AND HOME RULE, SHE
IGNORES THOSE LONG LINES TO GET
OUT OF FAILED PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
SHE IGNORES THE HEARINGS WE HAD
IN WHICH PEOPLE CAME AND SAID,
PLEASE DON'T TAKE OUR
SCHOLARSHIPS AND, MR. SPEAKER,
SHE EVEN IGNORES HER OWN PARTY
AND IGNORES WHAT'S IN HER OWN
AMENDMENT.
MR. SPEAKER, HER AMENDMENT WOULD
LEAVE 216 SPECIAL CASES THAT
WERE DENIED STILL IN FOR THIS
YEAR.
HER AMENDMENT WOULD LEAVE IN THE
SAME AS THE DEMOCRATS DID WHEN
THEY CLOSED OUT THE PREVIOUS
BILL, IT WOULD LEAVE THOSE
ALREADY IN SCHOOL, IN PRIVATE
SCHOOLS, GETTING ADDITIONAL
FUNDING EVERY YEAR.
AND THERE'S A REASON PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S CHILDREN WERE NOT GOING
TO WATCH THEIR SCHOOLMATES BE
THROWN OUT BECAUSE A SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAM THAT ALLOWED THEM TO BE
SIDE BY SIDE AS PEERS RATHER
THAN RELEGATED TO A FAILED
SCHOOL WAS GOING TO BE STOPPED.
SO ALL WE'RE DOING IS KEEPING A
PROGRAM OF HOPE ALIVE FOR THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND I HAVE
NEVER BEEN SO INSULTED TO BE
TOLD THAT IF WE GIVE MONEY WE'RE
BAD AND IF WE DON'T GIVE MONEY
EVERY OTHER PLACE THE OTHER SIDE
WANTS IT WE'RE BAD.
WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE
CAN TO GIVE PARENTAL CHOICE TO
FAILED SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WITH
THAT I URGE THE DEFEAT OF THIS
AMENDMENT THAT DOES NOTHING BUT
RETAIN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL STATUS
QUO THAT HAS FAILED AND THE
PASSAGE OF THE UNDERLYING BILL
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA YIELDS
BACK HIS TIME.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, ALL TIME
IS EXPIRED.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY THE GENTLELADY FROM
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
NOES HAVE IT.
I ASK FOR THE YEAS
AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING
THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS
WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING
UNTIL COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
AND ASK FOR ORDER IN THE HOUSE.
THE