Pat Roberts

It is essential that the CFTC have individuals in charge that truly take that mission statement to heart.

I'm glad that we have another opportunity to continue our discussion on implementing this important new law, the Every Student Succeeds Act, effectively and faithfully to make sure all our students have access to high-quality education.

We're doing a two-step here, not a one-step.

I'm very proud the bill includes my language to permanently end the Federal Government's ability to use any incentive or tool or coercion to force States to adopt Common Core.

No officer or employee of the Federal Government, including the Secretary, shall attempt to influence, condition, incentivize, or coerce State adoption of the Common Core State standards.

I appreciate your response.

I think that there's a peer review for my distinguished colleague from Massachusetts.

Congress decided last year to reverse that trend. The President signed the bill. That should put an end to it.

ESSA is an extension of one of the most important goals of our country, ensuring civil rights and equality of opportunity for every child.

For the last 15 years, the Federal Government has gradually become, in effect, a national school board.

But we said assurance. We said assurance.

The performance of every single student in every single subgroup matters.

I call it the end of the 'Mother, May I' era, an era when Governors and chief State school officers had to come to Washington to get permission.

We know what happens when we don't have true accountability. Inevitably, it's the kids from the low-income neighborhoods, kids of color, kids with disabilities, and kids learning English who too often fall through the cracks.

I was concerned about several provisions that I believed would decrease individual choice and open the door to government rationing.

I remain gravely concerned about how this demonstration, or test, as the administration calls it, will impact patient access to care.

I would like to reaffirm my request, as all on this side of the aisle have requested, that CMS simply withdraw this proposal.

I defy anybody in this room, any of you, any of us, any farm organization and any commodity group, any CPA, any lawyer, to define what the heck was in those regs.

We know that we must act. Everybody on this committee knows we must act.

All trade agreements are over-criticized. All trade agreements are oversold. But, they are absolutely essential.

This demonstration, quote, 'could affect patients' quality of and access to care.'

This demonstration, quote, 'will force Kansas Medicare beneficiaries with serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions to participate in a CMS innovation initiative.'

I agree. This is another case of rationing health care.

It would reduce reimbursements.

It is our committee's commitment to reviewing and finding ways to improve our mental health system.