I wish to take a few minutes to talk about the latest attempt by the Republicans in the House of Representatives--and a few Republicans in the Senate as well--to hold hostage the basic operation of our government, once again, over…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Perdue). Without objection, it is so ordered.

I think that is very consistent with the ADA's reasonable accommodation requirement.

I think it's really important that EEOC get the rules out, working with the other agencies to make sure that they have the accommodations as described by Ms. Mathis that will assure that all people are protected.

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Department of Homeland Security Funding

all of us in Congress are entitled to our own opinions, but you made sure that we were all working off the same set of facts

I think it is a cautionary note to all of us to work together and come together and find a path forward and bring that certainty back again and not go to another manufactured crisis.

Two years ago, Tea Party Republicans were pushing us from one manufactured crisis to the next

I think it's important to every person who says No Child Left Behind is broken. We want to fix it.

Democrats and Republicans should be able to work together on something as important as making sure our students have great teachers and can access high-quality education.

If we want to truly fix the badly broken No Child Left Behind law, this is something we have to get right, and it should not be a partisan issue.

I think that a lot of us can't support a bill that jeopardizes employer-sponsored health coverage for a lot of our American workers.

I think many of the members on our side expressed our real concern about reducing benefits for employees and the cost on the Federal Government as these people are put onto the Medicaid program.

I think we have to think about those unintended consequences.

if this bill passes, it would allow Mr. Fugere's competitors to cut benefits

We know we can win this, and we know that we have to for students back in my home State of Washington.

We can't turn our back in the process on measuring students' progress or simply let schools and States off the hook for failing to provide a quality education to all of their students.

I have been committed to making sure that every child, every child, has someone fighting for them and their future.

I especially want to thank all of our witnesses who are here with us.

We do believe that every student should have access to a quality public education regardless of where they live.

the Federal Government's mandated requirements under ESEA, under No Child Left Behind, indeed, have helped to push greater accountability

Thank you very much, Chairman Alexander, for holding this hearing today.

the Federal requirements that are in place have been so important in producing the kind of high-school and career-ready graduation rates

It would be irresponsible to spend billions in Federal taxpayer dollars without knowing if the law is making a difference in student lives.

Fixing No Child Left Behind should not be a partisan issue.