On the recordJuly 8, 2015
before I make my remarks, I would like to commend the Presiding Officer and Senator Graham and the people of the great State of South Carolina on the way they have handled the terrible tragedy that took place in their State. I know time and again we have all heard on the floor of the Senate and in conversations we have had in private the amazing mercy and grace shown by the families of the victims of the terrible tragedy that took place, but equally as well the great way in which the elected officials in the State of South Carolina, led by the Presiding Officer and Senator Graham, have caused a terrible event to be a learning experience for all of America and an example for the way in which tragedy should be dealt with. I want the Presiding Officer to know how much I personally appreciate it, but I know I speak on behalf of all of the people of Georgia as well. Mr. President, I will speak briefly about two subjects. Mr. President, I am one of the two people left in the Congress who had something to do with No Child Left Behind. The other one is John Boehner, the Speaker of the House. I will never forget that night in 2001, in the basement of the Capitol, after the conference committee finally came to an agreement on No Child Left Behind--us talking about how proud we were of what we had done but more how we knew that if we did not get it fixed by the end of the sixth year, it would go from being a positive change in education to a negative.…
