I worry about changing substitutes in that room, but I also worry about the 54 percent of our students that are on free and reduced lunch status.

In 2005, former Senator Olympia Snowe and I, in response to a lot of concerns about the law, put together an NCLB task force to evaluate the impact of the law in Maine.

Our task force concluded that States needed greater flexibility, and they recommended allowing States to measure student progress over grade spans.

The task force identified several unintended consequences of the law's requirement for annual tests.

it has been my privilege to serve on the Senate Special Committee on Aging since my very first days in the Senate, and I am honored to have been elected to chair this committee for the 114th Congress. I wish to welcome the Presiding…

I asked unanimous consent to proceed for up to 15 minutes as in morning business, and since my remarks do not pertain to the debate for the Keystone Pipeline, that the time not be charged to either side in that debate.

I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to proceed for up to 15 minutes as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Thank you, Mr. President. I further request that the time not be charged to either side on the debate on the Keystone pipeline, if that is necessary. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

today, Senator Donnelly and I are reintroducing the Forty Hours is Full-time Act to correct a serious flaw in the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, that is already causing workers to have their hours reduced and their pay cut…

On January 6, 2015, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN), along with Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), introduced legislation, S. 30, the Forty Hours is Full Time Act of 2015.

it is a great pleasure but a bittersweet moment for me to rise on the Senate floor to pay tribute to a dear friend and an esteemed colleague, Senator Saxby Chambliss. After 20 years in Congress--8 in the House and 12 here in the…

last week the Senate passed the National Women's History Museum Commission Act, a bill that I authored with the dean of the Democratic women Senators, Senator Mikulski of Maryland. It passed finally as part of the National Defense…

I wish to speak on the fiscal year 2015 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act that is currently before the Senate. For the last year, members of the Appropriations Committee have worked hard to develop bipartisan bills…

today I rise in support of the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act. First, let me express my sincere thanks to both Chairman Levin and Ranking Member Inhofe for their hard work in putting together a bipartisan bill that…

during his 36 years representing Michigan in the Senate, Senator Carl Levin's character and expertise have been described in many ways. He has been named by Time magazine as one of the 10 best Senators. He has been hailed by our military…

I was not at all surprised as I listened to the words of our colleague Senator Tom Coburn that he quoted extensively from the Declaration of Independence and he referred to our Constitution--the founding documents of our great country…

I and the many other supporters of S. 2270 are pleased that this legislation has passed the Senate. It is critical that this legislation be enacted this year. We look forward to its enactment this year and working with regulators as they…

I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy with Senators Brown and Johanns. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

We also want to ensure that the Federal Reserve uses its authority to tailor capital rules for insurance operations of entities under its supervision, regardless of the size of the subsidiary insured depository institution. As we have…

in June of this year the Senate passed by unanimous consent, S. 2270, urgent legislation I introduced with Senators Brown and Johanns to address the capital requirements that apply to insurance companies under Federal supervision pursuant…

when Senator Mike Johanns stated in February of last year that he had decided not to seek a second term in the Senate, he did so in a way that revealed so much about his character. There was no dramatic press conference, there were no…

I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to proceed for not longer than 5 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I rise to give a tribute to Senator Pryor, whose remarks we have just heard. Through nearly a quarter of a century of dedicated public service, Senator Mark Pryor has established a strong reputation as the voice of reason. From an Arkansas…

I support efforts to provide permanent enhanced conservation tax incentives for family farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who make charitable contributions of land for conservation purposes. As a cosponsor of the Rural Heritage…

in his three decades in the Senate, Jay Rockefeller established a strong reputation as a leader who offered innovative, common-sense solutions. He has served the people of West Virginia and of America with distinction. To me, he has been…