U.S. Chamber Joins White House in Praising Progress in Education Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue issued the following statement joining President Obama in applauding progress in education reform.

"Providing a high-quality education to every young American is vital to the strength of our nation's economy. American businesses cannot compete in the global marketplace without students prepared to enter and succeed in a 21st century workforce.

"That's why we join President Obama in praising states that are undertaking needed education reforms to qualify for a financial reward under the administration's Race to the Top (RTTT) program. RTTT will be a tremendous catalyst for greater innovation, accountability, and higher standards in American schools. We strongly support it and encourage as many states as possible to apply.

"We applaud President Obama for his commitment to raising the standards in American classrooms and providing a quality education for every child so he or she can pursue the American Dream. We look forward to welcoming Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to the U.S. Chamber on Monday where he will discuss RTTT and his vision for a stronger American education system. We also look forward to joining the Center for American Progress and education expert Frederick M. Hess of the American Enterprise Institute in unveiling a new Leaders and Laggards report examining what states are doing to tackle our most pressing education challenges."

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

# # #