I rise to call on the Senate to do something the rest of the American people are doing, our job. Most of President Obama's nominees to the executive branch and our Federal courts are not even remotely controversial. The country needs them…

This is a time for very bold thinking in this country for our school districts, our States, and this country to re-imagine the teaching profession as a 21st century profession because, otherwise, I think all this other stuff is just talk.

We have to have some bold changes here and some bold innovations.

If we don't take full advantage of this opportunity, if we don't think creatively and boldly, as you said, we will condemn not just our current students, but a generation of students to a lack of opportunity.

I simply can't imagine a better person for this job than Jeff Lane.

It is time to make some bold moves.

I am a cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act because I believe we need to do more to address gender wage disparity.

The persistent pay gap between male and female workers is unacceptable.

These disparities will slow the ability of the economy to recover.

Correcting these wage disparities is even more important as women have taken a greater role in our economy.

We as a country are going to rue the day unless we think about the children that are living in poverty.

I agree with Senator Dodd. Parents are first, but if parents are first, teachers and school leaders are second.