Teachers are our greatest public servants; they spend their lives educating our young people and shaping our Nation for tomorrow.

Education is the silver bullet to improve this Nation's standing worldwide... and our teachers know that.

To date, nearly 100,000 Hispanics have died with AIDS. Since Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in the United States, our challenge is even greater.

Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students.

From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when called, gone where ordered, and defended our nation with honor.

Education should be one of our top funding priorities; talking about it does not help the teachers and students who desperately need promises fulfilled.

I have fought to protect those benefits that ensure better salaries for teachers across the Nation such as grants to pay off student loans and funding for Teach for America. Still, we must all do more to show our continued appreciation for our Nation's leading role models.