My district has a lot of trade-dependent jobs.

Between floor votes, hearings and meetings, a typical week in Washington is about 70 hours. And back in the district, it's about 60 hours, a lot of which is spent with constituents.

You can't expect kids who don't have enough to eat to do well.

What we see today is an American economy that has boomed because of policies and developments of the 1950s and '60s: the interstate-highway system, massive funding for science and technology, a public-education system that was the envy of the world and generous immigration policies.

It is education which can liberate you and I believe girls should get the best education.

I want to talk about my very first play, when I was in eighth grade. One day, my English teacher, Mrs. Baker, announced that we were going to read 'On Borrowed Time' out loud in class. I was a mediocre student; I was terrified that she was going to call on me, so I hid my head.

I fully support U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his Global Education First Initiative and the work of U.N. Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown and the respectful president of the U.N. General Assembly Vuk Jeremic. I thank them for the leadership they continue to give.