Douglas Alexander: “Mr. President, today the Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, made an important speech at the National Press…”

“Mr. President, today the Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, made an important speech at the National Press Club. In her remarks, she discussed the report from her Commission on the Future of Higher Education. This commission was chaired by Charles Miller, who was the former chairman of the board of regents of the University of Texas system and a leader in education reform at all levels. I am very impressed with Secretary Spellings. I know her job. I once had it. I do not think we have had a more effective Secretary of Education. I am very impressed with Mr. Miller. I know about his work in Texas as part of a group of business leaders over the last 20 years who have led the country in terms of helping to set accountability standards in elementary and secondary education. Mr. President, I encourage my colleagues to read Secretary Spellings' speech from today. Secretary Spellings is the first U.S. Secretary of Education to assume the role of lead adviser to coordinate all of higher education.”