Max Cleland: “the far-reaching education package before us today makes significant strides toward meeting three of America's most…”

“the far-reaching education package before us today makes significant strides toward meeting three of America's most important education goals: improved student achievement, increased accountability, and enhanced teacher quality. I am very pleased that the conference report includes two of the amendments I offered to the Senate BEST Act--my Immigrants to New Americas amendment and my amendment to establish a National Center for School and Youth Safety. I thank the distinguished managers of the Senate bill, Senator Kennedy and Senator Jeffords, for their support and their willingness to assist me. I also want to express my appreciation to the staff of the Senator from Massachusetts for the courtesies and counsel they showed to me and to my staff. Finally, I want to thank the ``education team'' on my own staff, led by Lynn Kimmerly, my superb deputy legislative director, and Donni Turner, my outstanding chief staff counsel, who helped not only in developing and winning support for my amendments but in analyzing and advising me on all of the details of this landmark legislation. They have served our State and our Nation well, and our country's children will be the beneficiaries. My Immigrants to New Americans language addresses the explosion of immigrants coming to this country over the past decade.”