Hillary Clinton: Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on Global Education

May 31, 2007 -- Washington, DC – “Today, President Bush recognized the importance of global education as part of our nation’s international development agenda, and I hope that his remarks today will lead to further commitments regarding global education at the G-8 summit next week. However, I also believe that our government can and should be doing more to improve access to a quality basic education for the 77 million children around the world who are not in school.

“Earlier this year, I introduced the Education for All Act of 2007 with Senator Gordon Smith, Representative Nita Lowey, and Representative Spencer Bachus. We joined together on this bill because we have the capacity, responsibility, and opportunity to help children around the world. This bipartisan legislation sets forth a framework through which we can help the United States achieve, along with its global partners, universal basic education for every child by 2015. It will help to fund teacher training, curriculum development, and increase parent and community involvement in schools. The Education for All Act will also increase our ability to help vulnerable children in states experiencing conflict or humanitarian emergencies. Through improving access to and the quality of basic education, we can reduce poverty, prevent HIV, combat malnutrition, and produce greater opportunities for women and girls.

“In his speech today, the President called on Congress to make our educational initiatives even more robust – and this legislation is the vehicle through which to accomplish that goal. I would urge the President, as he moves forward in advancing these issues, to partner with us, support the bipartisan Education for All Act, and help to make universal basic education a reality.

Source: Senator Hillary Clinton