I once again thank the Senator from Pennsylvania for being both a passionate advocate and skilled legislator in helping us come to a result here that meets most of the goals of the Senators who spoke about this, at least for the next 2…

I thank the Senator from Ohio. He is exactly right. I know of no State that has more small colleges of the kind that would take advantage of Perkins loan probably than the State of Ohio. It is important to say that Senator Baldwin, Senator…

I thank the Senator from Wisconsin. This is the second time in 2 weeks that she has played a role in an important bipartisan decision on the floor of the Senate regarding education. She has made a major contribution to our Elementary and…

I thank the Senator from New Hampshire. She has been a passionate advocate for the Perkins loan recipients in New Hampshire and across this country and played a major role in developing this 2-year compromise that permits us to continue…

Once again, I thank Senator Baldwin, Senator Casey, and the other Senators who participated in our colloquy, Senator Ayotte and Senator Portman. They have all pushed hard to see that we get a result on the Perkins loan extension. They have…

If it is agreeable to Senators, I will make a few remarks introducing the subject of the colloquy, and then the Senators will speak in that order. I am here today to talk about the Federal Perkins Loan Program Extension Act of 2015, which…

I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess today from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington. ____________________

today the U.S. Senate, by a vote of 85 to 12, has sent a Christmas present to 50 million children across this country. First, it has to go down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, where we hope President Obama will wrap a big red bow…

yesterday I extended my appreciation to Senator Murray's staff and to mine--some she noted yesterday. Some of them have been working on this bill for 5 years. I am deeply grateful to them. I have deep appreciation for their hard work…

the American people have a lot on their minds this week about things happening in our world and in our country, but today we turn our attention to something at home. The Senate and Congress--and I believe the President--by the end of the…

I ask unanimous consent that following the vote on the adoption of the conference report, the Senate be in a period of morning business until 6 o'clock p.m., with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING…

I thank the Senator from Georgia, and I salute him. The Senator from Georgia is a former chairman of the Georgia State Board of Education. His experience there, his work with Senator Murray on early childhood education, and his insistence…

I have said many times but I would like to say again that at the beginning of this discussion, when the Senator from Washington and I talked about how we had been stuck for two Congresses on this, I started in one direction and she…

this is a day for opportunity in the Senate. We have an opportunity today to reverse the trend of the last several years toward a national school board. We have an opportunity to make clear that in the future, the path to higher standards…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on commerce…

the conference agreement to replace No Child Left Behind, the Every Student Succeeds Act, takes unprecedented steps to rein in the Secretary of Education and put the power for education decisions back in the hands of parents and State and…

that sets the final vote on our bill to fix No Child Left Behind tomorrow morning at 10:45 a.m. I don't think there is any doubt what the result will be. We have had a series of votes that give a pretty clear indication of where the Senate…

the Senator is correct. Student assessments must be designed and administered with a high degree of quality assurance. State assessment results can be used as the basis for critical decisions affecting the lives of students and the funding…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2015, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Millennium Challenge Corporation: Lessons Learned…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2015, at 10 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on foreign…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2015, at 10 a.m., in room SD-430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2015, at 10 a.m., in room SD-226 of the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2015, at 3 p.m., in room SR- 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct a…

I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. subcommittee on…