Reps. Meisner, Gillard, Plakas, Sak, Vagnozzi, Spade, Lipsey, Woodward, Williams, Hopgood, Stallworth, Law, Zelenko, Waters, Anderson, Whitmer, Murphy, Adamini, Brown, Tobocman, Kolb, Farrah, Condino, Gleason, Hood, Cheeks, Elkins, Dennis, Jamnick, Byrum, McConico, Gieleghem, Sheltrown, Accavitti, O'Neil, Milosch, Bieda, Smith and Minore offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 238.

            A resolution to renounce recent comments made by the United States Secretary of Education.

            Whereas, In remarks made before a meeting of governors from across the United States, the nation's top education official referred to the country's largest teachers union as a "terrorist organization."  These remarks, made in the context of disagreements among many parties over education funding and the No Child Left Behind program, have been most distressing to teachers, parents, and citizens all across the country; and

            Whereas, Subsequent explanations of the inappropriate choice of words and pronouncements of admiration for teachers have done little to assure teachers of the Secretary's support.  Even in his explanatory remarks, Secretary Rod Paige criticized what he called the union's "obstructionist scare tactics."  The terrorist references are a source of serious concern and have shocked and disheartened many Americans, including many who have devoted their lives to one of the most difficult and important of tasks—teaching the rising generations; and

            Whereas, To liken the National Education Association to terrorists who murder is an affront not only to every professional educator who ever had to manage a classroom, explain algebra to reluctant scholars, or spend an entire weekend correcting papers, but also to every American citizen who understands the critical role of education in shaping our shared future.  Our country will not make the progress it needs to make, in the classroom or elsewhere, if serious policy disagreements generate divisive remarks rather than productive work to solve problems; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we renounce recent comments made by United States Secretary of Education Rod Paige that referred to the nation's largest teachers union as a "terrorist organization"; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Education.