[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12072]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1045
        CONGRESS SUPPORTS EDUCATION IN TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

  (Mr. ETHERIDGE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, as a former school chief serving in 
Congress, I rise today to commemorate National Teacher Appreciation 
Week.
  All across America this week, our Nation's school children, parents, 
PTAs and others are gathering to show their appreciation to the 
professional educators who work every day to make their futures 
brighter. Teacher Appreciation Week is a great opportunity to stop and 
pay tribute to the profession that shapes the world of tomorrow.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to note that this new Democratic 
Congress is doing its part to support education in our communities. 
Democrats rejected President Bush's misguided educational budget cuts. 
Earlier this year, the House passed a balanced budget resolution that 
provides billions of dollars more for the non-neglected priorities like 
Head Start, secondary education, the Individuals With Disability Act 
and important initiatives.
  In addition, my colleagues and I have crafted bipartisan legislation 
to provide critical investment in our school construction and 
modernization across this country. The Rangel-Ramstad-Etheridge America 
Better Classrooms Act will provide $25 billion in interest-free bonds 
for local schools. This bill will make a difference in our communities, 
our children and our teachers.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in this piece of 
legislation on National Teacher Appreciation Week.

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