mr. garrett, i want to give that question to you. do you think the president was too harsh when it comes to d.c. public schools today? >> well, good evening to you. i don't think the president was too harsh. i think he was asked a question and unlike many politicians the president gave a very direct factual answer but follows it up to say that there are great schools that are in d.c. but it just so happens the majority of them are not at this point in time and collectively we need to work together as adults to set aside our issues to ensure we provide a quality education for every child, not only in the district of columbia but also across the nation. >> mr. garrett, some of the things that he implied could be good toward making progress in d.c. public schools, improving the situation, longer school year, merit pay for teachers, firing underperforming teachers. what's your reaction to some of the ways that we can improve things according to the president? >> more on the reality for what the president said, much of that is based in re

mr. garrett, for four minutes for his opening statement. mr. garrett. garth >> when you review the material that is before us in preparation of the hearing, you could hold a oversight hearing just about once a month and still have enough important issues to deal with. i'm sure the director would agree with that. the current state and future of mortgage finances continues to be a hot topic with the financial services committee and we are holding several hearings to look at the current state of the housing financial situation and how to structure the market in the future. unfortunately, i believe this focus is happening much later than it really should be. really should have been happening about what, two years ago since fannie and freddie were put in conservorship and we are looking for a way to reshape that market. my republican colleagues and i continue to look for opportunities to end the bailout so they can wind down their businesses and accurately account for their losses to the american taxpayer. when we did these amendments and such, the majority

mr. garrett. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. garrett: i thank you. i, too, rise today to celebrate this the 223rd anniversary of the constitution. for over two centuries ago, 39 founding fathers signed a document that established a framework for the free and brave society that we have in this united states of america. it was in the late 18th century when the 13 colonies were suffering from heavy trade regulations and increasing taxes, revenues being sent back to war-ravaged england and american col nists were exacerbated which was described as taxation without representation. it was john adams that described this as the greatest single effort of national deliberation that the world had ever seen. our founding fathers made the first modern attempt at a republican democracy in human history. these brave visionaries succeeded in designing a government that would be the model of the free world white up in the current day. see, our newly ratified constitution posed a challenge to the aged old political belief. and that was equally dis