"Confirming the President's nominees is one of the most important constitutional duties of the Senate."
"I believe that education is a key factor in securing a sound economic future for our country."
"The President-elect views education as both a moral obligation and an economic imperative."
"When we fail to properly educate children, we, as educators, perpetuate poverty, and we perpetuate social failure."
"We have just got to somehow break this thing down and get these two together in how we focus education on these young kids."
"We must understand that education begins at birth, and the preparation for education begins before birth."
"I believe that we must invest in education to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed."
"No Child Left Behind ought to mean that we are not leaving them behind in their health either."
"Education is one of the most critical issues we have to address."
"I come to this work with three deeply held beliefs."
"That would be like saying to any minority group 30 percent of you just don't count."