Douglas Alexander

Is it in order for me to take about 7 or 8 minutes to speak on a subject other than the budget? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. John Bolton

I am the Senator from Tennessee, and we know something about country music in our State. There is an old country music song with the line that goes something like this: There is light at the end of the tunnel and I hope it ain't no train…

I would like to now praise the pages. I could say good words about the Senate pages and I will. I wanted to especially praise the House page school--and I hope the Senate pages will excuse me for doing that. Madam President, my good…

I see my friend from Oregon here. I ask unanimous consent to speak a little bit longer than 10 minutes if that would not inconvenience him, or would he like to go?

I wish to comment on the majority leader's remarks about Viktor Yushchenko, who will be addressing a joint meeting at 11 o'clock. Two weeks ago, I had the privilege, with the Democratic leader, of visiting with Mr. Yushchenko for an hour…

I was not surprised by that--I think that is the way it ought to be--but I was impressed by that.

I am concerned about the so-called ``Real ID Act,'' a bill recently passed by the House of Representatives that would require States to turn 190 million driver's licenses into national identification cards, with State taxpayers, I am…

I am pleased to say that the Senator from Arizona, Mr. Kyl, the Senator from Texas, Mr. Cornyn, and the Senator from Nebraska, Mr. Nelson, have joined Senator Pryor and me in introducing this bill. Congressman Jim Cooper from Tennessee…

The people are entitled to two things. One is to have their constitutional and Federal rights enforced in the Federal courts. This will continue under this legislation. But they are also entitled to have democratically elected leaders that…

It has strong bipartisan support. As I will show in a few minutes, it strongly supports the idea of limiting what we call democracy by court decree. Limiting the idea of Federal courts running the Government has strong bipartisan appeal…

today I am here with Senator Dodd and on behalf of Senator Enzi and Senator Kennedy to introduce the Caring for Children Act of 2005 which reauthorizes the Child Care and Development Block Grant, CCDBG, program. This program provides…

I am in support of the President's nominee, Judge Michael Chertoff. He seems to have worked for almost every part of the Federal Government, including this body. As Secretary of Homeland Security, Judge Chertoff will play a very important…

I salute Senator Hagel for his leadership and his contribution on this issue. I am glad to be here with my colleague, Senator Craig, who is one of the Senate's real authorities on energy. We have had some trouble passing an energy bill in…

this is Black History Month. I look forward to Black History Month each year because it reminds me of my late friend, Alex Haley. Alex Haley died 13 years ago this month. I can still remember his funeral in Memphis and the big crowd…

some of my colleagues are suggesting that as a result of yesterday's election in Iraq, the United States needs an exit strategy, that we should begin to withdraw troops, and that we should set a timetable for bringing the rest of our…

When Dr. Rice comes back to the committee as Secretary Rice--and she will be there often--I hope she will address these questions and say more about what our objectives are. When she does, I also wouldn't mind if she acknowledges when…

It is a noble and good effort for us to think about how can we make certain young girls as well as young boys have the opportunity to learn more about science and math and to make careers of science and math should they choose to do that…

I have a few words before we adjourn for the holidays. This isn't the first year that there will be a lot of empty places at our holiday dinner tables. Even if our own table doesn't have a missing spot, we know a neighbor or a friend whose…

I say a few words about the legislation passed last night that we call IDEA, to help children with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which we have enacted is critical for the approximately 6.5 million…

I salute the Senator from Virginia for his leadership on telecommunications policy. Over the last 2 years, I do not know any Senator in the Chamber, other than the Senator from Virginia, who has been more active, who has been better…

I mention one other piece of legislation that may have a chance of passing. At least I can report there are now 68 U.S. Senators who have agreed to sponsor S. 2889 which will celebrate the recovery and restoration of the American bald…

I support H.R. 5360, the American History and Civics Education Act of 2004. The bill represents an important step forward in the teaching of these critical subjects. National exams show that three-quarters of the nation's 4th, 8th and 12th…

I think it is worthwhile, in addition to this, to give a little credit to former President George H.W. Bush. I still believe that when the dust settles and history books are written, President Bush's leadership in education will be among…

right after the election, on November 3, 2004, I went to the Miller Center at the University of Virginia. The purpose of the occasion was a discussion of the 1989 Education Summit. It had been 15 years since the President of the United…

A few years ago, a New York Times story reported that ``Lamar Alexander grew up in a lower, middle class family in the mountains of East Tennessee.'' The article so offended my mother I found her reading Thessalonians to help deal with…