WV Saturday Gazette-Mail wrote: December 04, 2004 Constitution tutelage gets Byrd boost
Words inserted into spending bill dictate instruction on U.S. document
America’s schools must now give special instruction about the U.S. Constitution every Sept. 17, thanks to a snippet of language Sen. Robert Byrd slipped into the mammoth federal spending bill.
All federal employees must be given similar education every Sept. 17, the anniversary of the Constitution’s signing. Federal agencies also must provide educational materials about the Constitution to each new employee during orientation.
Byrd, D-W.Va., is well known for always carrying a copy of the Constitution in his breast pocket. He is known as the Senate’s foremost authority on the document.
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His provision requiring Constitutional education is unusual, in that the U.S. Department of Education is expressly prohibited from imposing a national school curriculum. The new law applies to any school, from preschool through college, that gets any federal money whatsoever.
The law also designates Sept. 17 as “Constitution Day.” It had been designated “Citizenship Day.”
Although President Bush has not yet signed the bill, Byrd aide Tom Gavin said Byrd’s provision will stand in the final law.
“No, it can’t be taken out,” Gavin said. “The legislation has been passed by both the House and Senate ... The only thing that could happen is that the president could veto the whole bill, which would cause a government shutdown.”
The $388 billion spending bill passed Congress before Thanksgiving, but it has been held up over language that gives Congress the right to examine people’s tax returns. The House is expected to vote Tuesday to clarify that language, Gavin said, and then the bill should become law.
In recent years, Byrd has decried what he sees as America’s movement away from “the wisdom of its magnificent Constitution.”
“While our educational system is good at ingraining feelings of respect and reverence for our Constitution, that same system is in need of great improvements in teaching what is actually in the Constitution and just why it is so important,” Byrd said in a written statement.
“Studies have shown that many Americans are hugely ignorant about history ... Only with a thorough knowledge of history can we ever expect our people to appreciate the gift of the framers [of the Constitution], or the experience and the struggles going back centuries which combined to make us free.
“Only with a citizenry that understands its responsibilities in a republic such as ours can we ever expect to elect office holders with the intelligence to represent the people well, the honesty to deal with them truthfully, and the determination to effectively promote the people’s interests and preserve their liberties, no matter what the personal political consequences.
“We can build upon the respect and reverence we still hold for our Constitution. But we had better start now before, through ignorance and apathy, even that much slips away from us.”
This from the man who carries his copy of the Constitution with him everywhere.
Nitram, slightly high on cough syrup: Do you know you're beautiful?
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" -- Leonard Nimoy, last Tweet
He snuck in some Pork, too. Same issue of the paper, even.
State to get $18.3 million in anti-terror funds
Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., announced Friday that West Virginia soon will receive $18.3 million in federal funds to prevent potential terrorist attacks.
“West Virginia may not be the biggest or most populated state, but it holds potential terrorist targets,” Byrd said. “West Virginia has one of the most concentrated regions of chemical plants in the country. An attack on those plants could jeopardize thousands of lives.”
The training and equipment provided to emergency response teams can also be used to repair damages from floods and ice storms.
The funds from the Department of Homeland Security will include $11.9 million for terrorism and disaster training, equipment, and response planning. Another $4.3 million would go to prevention and deterrence efforts. Funds will also go to a West Virginia Citizens Corps, similar to Neighborhood Watch programs.
Byrd said the federal funds are important to police, fire and medical emergency response teams. “Too often, these first responders have to rely on small events like bake sales and spaghetti dinners to raise funds for new trucks and safety equipment.”
Nitram, slightly high on cough syrup: Do you know you're beautiful?
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" -- Leonard Nimoy, last Tweet
I wonder if he carries it with him when he visits these places:
Robert C. Byrd Drive, from Beckley to Sophia (Byrd's hometown)
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia
Robert C. Byrd Cancer Research Center
Robert C. Byrd Technology Center at Alderson-Broaddus College
Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center, near Princeton
Robert C. Byrd Bridge between Huntington and Chesapeake, Ohio
Robert C. Byrd addition to the lodge at Oglebay Park, Wheeling
Robert C. Byrd Community Center, Pine Grove
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships
Robert C. Byrd Expressway, U.S. 52 near Weirton
Robert C. Byrd Institute in Charleston
Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing
Robert C. Byrd Visitor Center at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse
Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center
Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center
Robert C. Byrd Federal Building
Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex
Robert C. Byrd Library and Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center
Robert C. Byrd Rural Health Center
Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition to the veteran's hospital in Huntington
Robert C. Byrd Industrial Park, Hardy County
Robert C. Byrd Scholastic Recognition Award
Robert C. Byrd Community Center in the naval station, Sugar Grove
BoTM / JL / MM / HAB / VRWC / Horseman
I'm studying for the CPA exam. Have a nice summer, and if you're down just sit back and realize that Joe is off somewhere, doing much worse than you are.
Before, in order to become immortal through monuments, you needed to conquer a country or smash some great national enemy. Today, I suppose all you need is a few million in campaign money.
Anyway, that sounds like a bit of useless legislation to me. If we're going to mandate changes to the national education system, we can start by axing the Dept of Education, replacing it with a new entity and organizing a national cirriculum.
The End of Suburbia
"If more cars are inevitable, must there not be roads for them to run on?"
-Robert Moses
"The Wire" is the best show in the history of television. Watch it today.
Joe wrote:Robert C. Byrd Drive, from Beckley to Sophia (Byrd's hometown)
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia
Robert C. Byrd Cancer Research Center
Robert C. Byrd Technology Center at Alderson-Broaddus College
Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center, near Princeton
Robert C. Byrd Bridge between Huntington and Chesapeake, Ohio
Robert C. Byrd addition to the lodge at Oglebay Park, Wheeling
Robert C. Byrd Community Center, Pine Grove
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships
Robert C. Byrd Expressway, U.S. 52 near Weirton
Robert C. Byrd Institute in Charleston
Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing
Robert C. Byrd Visitor Center at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse
Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center
Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center
Robert C. Byrd Federal Building
Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex
Robert C. Byrd Library and Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center
Robert C. Byrd Rural Health Center
Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition to the veteran's hospital in Huntington
Robert C. Byrd Industrial Park, Hardy County
Robert C. Byrd Scholastic Recognition Award
Robert C. Byrd Community Center in the naval station, Sugar Grove
It makes me think of Bart Simpson writing his name into wet concrete.
Commentator: "It is an ancient mystery. Who was Robert C. Byrd, and how did he get his name on all these ancient monuments?
Some guy: "Let's bring him back with technology!" *guy pulls out a raygun.* ZAP! Robert C. Byrd appears.
Byrd: "Aye, carumba!" He pulls out his copy of the Constitution out of his pocket.
Crowd: "Ooooooh!"
"What is simple to him, is astounding to us!"
"We will make him our new god!"
DPDarkPrimus is my boyfriend!
SDNW4 Nation: The Refuge And, on Nova Terra, Al-Stan the Totally and Completely Honest and Legitimate Weapons Dealer and Used Starship Salesman slept on a bed made of money, with a blaster under his pillow and his sombrero pulled over his face. This is to say, he slept very well indeed.
Joe wrote:I wonder if he carries it with him when he visits these places: (snip)
Why yes, Yes he does. And he pulls it out to show it to people too
Nitram, slightly high on cough syrup: Do you know you're beautiful?
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" -- Leonard Nimoy, last Tweet
Hell, Byrd's the reason why so many government offices (like the NICS offices) are in Bumfuck, West-by God-Virginia.
"You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours."- General Sir Charles Napier
Glocksman wrote:Hell, Byrd's the reason why so many government offices (like the NICS offices) are in Bumfuck, West-by God-Virginia.
Don't knock it. It gives us jobs. Otherwise there'd be no one here but retirees.
Nitram, slightly high on cough syrup: Do you know you're beautiful?
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" -- Leonard Nimoy, last Tweet
