It now depends on them, on their willingness to unleash this stuff, and they may not be willing to do that.

One of the proposals that the Alexander draft clearly states is an opportunity to plus-up title II by $500 million, to fund title IV at $1.

Mr. President, I want to give you a stark fact and figure. Every year 8,000 American veterans take their own lives and commit suicide. That is more people, more veterans than were killed in all the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We…

targeted funding means no flexibility. It says, 'You need this. Here's some funds to do it.'

Mr. President, I would like to add that we are glad to have Senator Reid back. I know he has had a difficult time the last few weeks, and we are proud he is back on his feet. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to be recognized to…

I agree with you, except I'm more concerned about today's war than I am the war after next.

I look and I agree with Senator Reed who talked about the inadequacy in meeting the threats.

Yet you say that you want to keep the yearly tests.

Boy, there's nothing more important than our kids' education. There really isn't.

I want my kid to be in the 99th percentile in head circumference.

Here's one thing you said in your testimony, which I love. There is an old adage that states what gets measured gets done.

Can we design tests, can we design accountability measures that reward the kinds of teaching and the kinds of curriculum that excite kids and make kids excited to learn?

I can't agree with you more on mental health, and I have a mental health in schools thing that we got some--about $55 million for.

I think we do have to figure out how to have the IRS run more efficiently.

It is a tough agency to love because it is taking away your hard-earned dollars.

I have heard about four or five of them while I have been here.

I would think, with your manpower being stretched and your resources being stretched, that you would not want to make a decision like that that would cost the agency so much and be harmful to taxpayers.

Taxpayers this year are likely to receive the worst level of taxpayer services since at least 2001 when the IRS implemented its current performance measures.