The Hill News

U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-Minn.) delivered the following remarks today at the Committee's organizational meeting.

Good morning. Let me begin by welcoming the Members of the Committee, staff, and guests to our first meeting of the 112th Congress. There are many new faces in the room, and with those new faces comes a new degree of eagerness and excitement to get to work. I also am pleased to welcome back a number of members who bring invaluable experience from their years of distinguished service.  

There is an old saying about this committee that while we don’t agree on everything, we disagree without being disagreeable. It has been our tradition under both Republican and Democratic leadership. I want to thank Mr. Miller for abiding by this principle and pledge to do so as well.

Our committee has a long history of facing tough issues, and I have every reason to believe we will be cha! llenged to do so again. More than 14 million Americans are unemployed, and employers remain reluctant to expand and hire new workers. The national debt continues to break new and alarming ground, recently exceeding $14 trillion. Far too many schools are failing to prepare students to succeed in the 21st century, and many young adults are ill-equipped and can’t afford higher education.

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