Week in Review - February 13, 2009

Statement

Week in Review

Posted by: Sen. Richard Burr

The week has been dominated mostly by the continuing debate on the economic "stimulus" package, and this evening we will vote on the conference report, which passed the House earlier this afternoon. I continue to believe that this economic "stimulus" bill, which will spend nearly a trillion dollars on government programs and pork barrel projects, was not the right approach to solve our economic crisis.

Earlier this week, I introduced the Graduate for a Better Future Act to help public high schools across the country improve their graduation rates. Currently, over 30% of North Carolina's public high school students do not graduate on time. My bill would establish a competitive grant program targeted at high schools and school districts with the lowest high school graduation rates. We must do everything in our power, at every level of government, from the Board of Education to the Department of Education, to prepare our children for the 21st century and have our kids graduate on time.

Next week, Congress will be in recess, and I am very much looking forward to staying in North Carolina. I will be traveling to Wake, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Martin, Pitt, Beaufort, Craven, Lenoir, and Wayne counties. I will be attending many events next week, and I encourage you to check back on my blog as I send some updates from the road. I hope you and your family have a safe weekend and a happy Presidents Day!

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