matter their ethnicity or circumstances, receive an appropriate education, it is crucial that we achieve change in identification and school programs.  According to Stephen Martin, President of the Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted, most of the funding for gifted education derives from local taxes. If local communities are unwilling or unable to fund programs for their gifted children then it is the role of the federal government to assist in whatever way it can.
That is why I oppose Bush's budget and lend my support to federal education programs. During last year's budget debate, I voted with the Senate to reject President Bush's call for education cuts and voted to provide an extra $5.4 billion for education programs. This year, one-third of Bush's proposed budget cuts come from education (42 programs), including the Javits Act. Again, Congress has rejected these cuts. The Senate agreed by a 73-27 vote to add $7 billion for education and health programs in the Budget Resolution. 
The Earth's resources are limited, but one unlimited resource we can continually tap is the creative spirit of our people. Our youth are our most precious resource. We need to support those students who are exceptional and on the road to becoming America's future leaders. I am deeply concerned with the precedent America is setting under the current Administration - we are telling our children that we expect them to succeed, yet we are mandating limitation. When it comes to our children's excellence in education there is no such thing as too much of a good thing.  I will continue to fight for education and oppose any budget that does not treat education as a national priority.