| ... state partners to keep the education firm. i thank the gentleman from virginia and i call on my colleagues to support this budget. thank you. mr. scott: thank you very much. madam chair, i'd like to now call on the gentlelady from wisconsin, ms. moore. ms. moore: i want to thank the gentleman from virginia for his leadership. education is certainly the key to unlock the door to freedom, george washington carver once said. this horticulturist, this inventor, this chemist, this educator, yes, this former slave, was lifted through educational opportunity in america. his destiny was changed because of education. and america's gross domestic product was changed because of him. unfortunately, however, the last decade of divesting in american educational opportunity in preference for short-term tax breaks has reversed the course of the united states' global dominance, particularly in the areas of science, technology, engiering and math. year after year after year the former president's education budget gutted and underfunded vital educational programs. innovation and health research have been shackled under ideological and budgetary bondage. happily president obama begins the re-investment in education with $100 billion invested in our future, invested in our children and, yes, invested in our economic growth. since only 40% of our youth age 25 through 34 have have a college degree, i am particularly pleased that the chairman's mark will enable us to focus on affordability through increasing pell grants and on college retention efforts, provided through programs such as upward bound and trio. indeed, that golden door to freedom will only open with an appropriately educated workforce where we lift our young people to their rightful place in a ... |