Congressman David Wu (D-Oregon) is serving his 2nd term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressman, who was born in Taiwan and came to the U.S. with his family in 1961, earned a Bachelor's degree from Stanford University and a law degree from Yale University. The only Chinese-American serving in the House, Congressman Wu sits on the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Science Committee (www.house.gov/wu).

When my hometown of Portland, Oregon received the top mark for major cities in the Kid-Friendly Cities Report Card, I was delighted. But I wasn't surprised. I already knew that Portland is a great place to live, work and raise a family. I also know that it takes a lot of hard work by a lot of dedicated people to make a city "kid-friendly."

Like a child's report card, the Kid-Friendly Cities Report Card points out the progress-as well as the potential-for our cities and suburbs. By reading and using the information contained in the report, every American can help his or her city attain its potential as a "kid-friendly city."

Two of the key indicators included in the Kid-Friendly Cities Report Card are elementary and secondary classroom size, an issue that I work hard on in Congress. While research has shown that students learn better in classes with smaller student-teacher ratios, common sense tells us even more. Students are more successful when they have more one-on-one time with adults. Teacher attention matters. If teachers are dividing their time between 18 students, that works. If they are dividing their time between 27, 30, or even 40 students, it becomes difficult, even impossible, to provide individual attention.

The good news is that millions of children in both urban and suburban areas are enjoying enriching lives. Children in these cities receive excellent educational opportunities, live in pleasant and safe neighborhoods, and have access to the best health care in the world. However, the Report Card tells us that no place is perfect. Every city and suburb can improve. It is up to us to use the Kid-Friendly Cities Report Card to improve our own communities.

The Report also tells us that we can make every city and suburb the best place for a child to be a child-so long as we improve those areas that are not up to an "A" or a "B" grade. Every community faces opportunities to improve life for its children. I urge everyone to use the Report to make this happen.

The Honorable David Wu,
U.S. House of Representatives