this weekend I was in eastern Oregon holding townhalls. At each gathering, citizens asked me: How important is August 2? Are the Members of the Senate going to be able to come together and make sure our Nation doesn't default? I rise today…

I rise to address amendment No. 570, offered by Senator Wyden, regarding closure of the Umatilla Chemical Depot. It is an amendment on which I am proud to partner with him. This is a very important issue to my home State of Oregon. We have…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for up to 10 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that Alexa Damis- Wulff be granted floor privileges for the balance of the day. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

we need to figure out how we can invest far more in our infrastructure here.

investing in our infrastructure is absolutely critical, critical to our economy in terms of job creation and critical to our future economy

I rise to address an issue of fairness for our National Guard soldiers. They serve with honor and bravery at home and abroad. They have earned the respect and admiration of an entire Nation with their incredible sacrifices over the last…

I ask for 10 minutes in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I think you have made the case that what happens outside of the classroom is as much a part of the education process as inside the classroom.

We must have rigorous goals that can be achieved.

If we can't keep more kids in school, we won't even have the sheer numbers to be able to compete.

In your elementary schools, do the teachers talk about each student each week with each other?

We need to make the connections and make it a whole system.

the funds being shifted from, if you will, formula grants into competitive grants means that now the school district has to become expert grant writers.

So what is it that kind of catches your students' imagination in the sense that it is relevant and not just some dry thing that they will 'never use'?

You are the reason that we are all here talking about education, and without your voice, we are missing a huge element.

I think that that is right.

If you are capable in math, there is a pretty substantial demand in the economy, and how much of a challenge is that?

We are becoming the first generation of adults whose children are getting less education than we got.

But it sounded to me that much of what has gone on is trying to break down the silo in which teachers often find themselves.

We don't have enough folks and enough ethnic groups involved in the STEM world.

For every student that comes to first grade unable to read, we are failing seven of them.

I think it is unfair that we charge our schools with the totality of educating the kid as if they are supposed to be teachers and social service workers at the same time.

While you have the microphone, are there other things in the afterschool enrichment world that are particularly transportable models into the rural areas that may not have, say, industrial manufacturing partners and so forth nearby?

Our skills as a Nation, as they relate to skills in other countries around the world, are slipping.