WASHINGTON, D.C. -- House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH) tonight praised President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address and the President’s call for action to improve education, protect workers’ retirement security, and encourage more Americans to devote a portion of their lives to the service of others. Boehner issued the following statement on portions of the President’s address:

     “The President issued a strong directive to Congress in the wake of the Enron tragedy, calling for new safeguards to help workers preserve and protect their retirement savings. The House has already passed one such measure with strong bipartisan support: the Retirement Security Advice Act [H.R. 2269], which would give employees access to professional investment advice regarding their 401(k) plans. The Senate, however, has yet to act.

     “As our committee begins hearings next week into the Enron collapse, we’ll do so with a firm commitment to identifying further reforms that promote security, education and freedom for employees who’ve saved all their lives for a secure retirement. As the President said, a good job should lead to security in retirement.”

     “I applaud the President’s call for a new era of national service and sacrifice. When people use their freedom to help their neighbors, it is the most noble product of a free society. I hope the President’s words will inspire a generation of young Americans to dedicate a portion of their lives to the service of others.

     “The President’s initiative will channel the energy and compassion of the American people toward rebuilding our communities, responding in times of domestic crisis, and helping our neighbors throughout the world. We stand ready and eager to work with the Administration to achieve these commendable goals.”

     “As the President suggested, education reform does not end with enactment of the education reform bill; it begins there. We must build on the strong bipartisan foundation established in H.R. 1 [the No Child Left Behind Act]. I support the President’s call for improving Head Start and early childhood education, and the goal of placing a highly-qualified teacher in every public classroom.

     “I also believe we must work this year to further expand education choice for low-income parents. All parents, regardless of income level, should be able to choose the best school possible for their children - public, private, religious, or charter. We must also pursue meaningful reforms in special education that will ensure that no child with disabilities is left behind in America's schools.”

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