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THEY CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE TO
REQUEST TIME FROM ME.
I WILL YIELD BACK AND GLADLY
ALLOW THEM WHATEVER OF THEIR OWN
TIME THEY'D LIKE TO TAKE.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM COLORADO IS
RECOGNIZED.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
TO THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA, I AM WELL AWARE OF
HIS LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO
EDUCATION OF THE KIDS IN THIS
COUNTRY AND I'M HOPING YOU
DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING I SAID TO
SUGGEST THAT AND I THINK THE TWO
OF US SHARE A LOFT AGREEMENT ON
WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING.
MY ISSUE IS SIMPLY AS I SAID THE
SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY HAS EVER
RIGHT TO DO IT, MY ISSUE IS
LIKE YOU AND OTHER MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, I WANT TO ENGAGE
IN A DISCUSSION AND DEBATE ON
THE BILL AND I WANT TO CONSIDER
YOUR AMENDMENTS AND HIS
AMENDMENTS, AND OFFER MY OWN,
AND I AM PAINFULLY AWARE,
HAVING BEEN IN THE SCHOOL
SYSTEM, THAT CONGRESS WAS
SUPPOSED TO REAUTHORIZING
THIS -- REAUTHORIZE THIS BILL
IN 2007.
IT'S FOUR YEARS LATER BECAUSE OF
OUR OWN FEKLESSNESS, OUR OWN
INABILITY TO GET ANYTHING DONE,
THEN EVERY SINGLE YEAR PARENTS,
TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS KEEP
HAVING TO PUT UP WITH WHAT IS
THE CRUDEST ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM I COULD IMAGINE.
THE ONLY THING CRUDER THAN THE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM WAS THE
RESPONSE OF BIG SCHOOL DISTRICTS
LIKE THE ONE I USED TO WORK IN
TO THAT ACCOUNTABILITY AS PEOPLE
TRIED TO COMPLY WITH
WELL-INTENTIONED BUT INCREDIBLY
POORLY THOUGHT THROUGH LAWS AND
REGULATIONS FROM
WASHINGTON, D.C.
AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE TO
ENDURE ONE MORE YEAR OF THIS,
OF THIS MEANINGLESS
ACCOUNTABILITY WHERE, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE COMPARING THIS YEAR'S
FOURTH GRADERS TO LAST YEAR'S
FOURTH GRADERS AND TELLING
DIFFERENCE.
OURSELVES THAT ACTUALLY MAKES A
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK BEING
DONE IN OUR STATES RIGHT NOW
AROUND STANDARDS, ELEVATING
THEM, SO WE QUIT FOOLING
OURSELVES ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE
MEETING INTERNATIONAL NORMS WHEN
IT COMES TO OUR KIDS.
THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT WORK
BEING DONE IN COLORADO AND OTHER
STATES THAT HAVE COME ALONG
CREATING A GROWTH MODEL SO THAT
WE CAN ACTUALLY TRACK NOT --
NOT WE BUT MOMS AND DADS AND
TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS CAN
ACTUALLY TRACK HOW THIS GROUP OF
FIFTH GRADERS DID COMPARED TO
HOW THEY DID AS FOURTH GRADERS,
COMPARED TO HOW THEY DID AS
THIRD GRADERS AND COMPARE THEM
TO SIMILARLY SITUATED KIDS
ACROSS THE STATE AND THE
COUNTRY.
THAT MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE
CURRENTLY HAVE.
WORLD COMPARED TO WHAT WE
BUT I'VE SAT OUT THERE IN
ABSOLUTE DISPAIR WONDERING WHY
THIS TOWN WAS SO MEAN TO OUR
TEACHERS AND TO OUR KIDS.
ISN'T IT A BARE MINIMUM YOU
COULD REAUTHORIZE THE
LEGISLATION WHEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO IN 2007?
AND NOW WE FIND OURSELVES HERE.
I THOUGHT THE SENATOR FROM NORTH
CAROLINA WAS VERY ELOQUENT THIS
MORNING AND TODAY ON THE FLOOR
AS WELL.
AND I APPRECIATED THE POINTS
THAT HE MADE.
MY OBJECTION IS A NARROW ONE
WHICH IS THE IDEA THAT THE RIGHT
WAY TO APPROACH REAUTHORIZING NO
CHILD LEFT BEHIND, THE RIGHT
WAY TO APPROACH TRYING TO FIX
THIS SITUATION IS TO CREATE A
BUMP OF PROCEDURAL BARRIERS THAT
DON'T ALLOW US TO HAVE A
SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
AND I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH WHAT
THE SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA
SAID MAINTENANCE AGO.
THERE IS A REASON WE HAVE NOT A
15% APPROVAL RATING BUT A 12%
APPROVAL RATING.
THERE'S A REASON.
THINK IF WE COULD COME
TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN WAY,
REAUTHORIZE THIS BILL, GET RID
OF A.Y.P., DO SOME OF THE
IMPORTANT THINGS IN THIS
LEGISLATION, I HOPE THE SENATOR
WILL LOOK AT ONE OF MY
AMENDMENTS BECAUSE ONE OF MY
AMENDMENTS HAS YOUR PHARMACIST
IN MIND, IF ONLY WE COULD GET
TO A DISCUSSION OF -- OF THE
MERITS OF THIS BILL.
AND SO I HOPE THE SENATOR FROM
KENTUCKY HAS LEFT THE FLOOR, I
HOPE MY ONLY OBJECTIVE COMING
DOWN HERE TODAY WAS TO SIMPLY
IMPLORE HIM TO WITHDRAW THAT
OBJECTION KNOWING IT'S HIS RIGHT
TO DO IT.
BUT I CAN'T THINK OF WHY YOU
WOULD DO IT IF YOU WANTED TO
CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THE
WORK FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
SO I THANK THE SENATOR FROM
NORTH CAROLINA, THE SENATOR
FROM MINNESOTA, AND I WILL
MR. PRESIDENT.
YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM SMIN RECOGNIZED.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
ALSO RESPECT MY GOOD FRIEND FROM
NORTH CAROLINA AND I THANK YOU
FOR YOUR VOTE ON MY AMENDMENT.
AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE
SOME OF MY OTHER AMENDMENTS,
TOO.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE ISSUE WITH
ONE THING YOU SAID, AND I THINK
YOU SAID IT IN A MOMENT THAT --
WHERE IF YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT
YOU SAID, YOU PROBABLY --
PROBABLY MIGHT RECONSIDER IT.
AND YOU SAID THAT -- I HAD SAID
THAT I'VE SPENT MORE TIME
PROBABLY ON THIS BILL THAN ON
ANY OTHER.
AND I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
AND YOU SAID THAT IF I HAD SPENT
MORE TIME ON THIS BILL THAN ANY
OTHER, THAT'S PATHETIC.
AND IT'S A PATHETIC COMMENTARY
OR SAD COMMENTARY BECAUSE WE
JUST GOT THIS BILL THE OTHER
DAY.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS --
AND I THINK THE SENATOR WOULD
ACKNOWLEDGE THIS -- THAT WORK
ON ANY PIECE OF LEGISLATION
START WHEN THE BILL'S
INTRODUCED.
IT STARTS -- MY WORK ON THIS
BILL STARTED VERY SOON AFTER I
ARRIVED IN THE SENATE.
IT STARTED WITH A BILL THAT I
CO-AUTHORED WITH ORREN HATCH,
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AN
AMENDMENT.
IT'S AN AMENDMENT TO RECRUIT AND
TRAIN PRINCIPALS FOR HIGH-NEEDS
SCHOOLS.
BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SCHOOLS THAT
I'VE SEEN TURNED AROUND BY
PRINCIPALS.
PRINCIPALS CAN DO -- CREATE THE
ETHOS OF A SCHOOL.
THEY HAVE SO MUCH TO DO WITH
SELECTING THE TEACHERS AND
TRANSFORMING A SCHOOL.
AND THIS WOULD CREATE A PROGRAM
WHERE WE RECRUIT, PEOPLE WANT
BE PRINCIPALS IN HIGH-NEEDS
SCHOOLS AND HAVE THEM MENTORED
IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN A PRINCIPAL
BEFORE BY A PRINCIPAL WHO
SUCCESSFULLY TURNED AROUND A
HIGH-NEEDS SCHOOL.
THAT STARTED IMMEDIATELY UPON MY
GETTING HERE TO THE SENATE.
HAVE BEEN GOING BACK TO MY STATE
AND TRAVELING AROUND THE STATE
OF MINNESOTA TALKING TO TEACHERS
AND SUPERINTENDENTS AND
PRINCIPALS.
THE SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA
TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE
SUPERINTENDENTS AND PRINCIPALS
AND TEACHERS HERE.
WE HAD HEARINGS.
WE HAD TEN HEARINGS.
I BELIEVE IT WAS THE OTHER SIDE
THAT SAID PLEASE STOP THE
HEARINGS AT THAT POINT.
HE TALKED ABOUT THE
TRANSFORMATION MODELS, WHICH I
DO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH.
THAT'S FAILED?
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A SCHOOL
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW
WITH THE SCHOOLS IN THE BOTT
5%?
BUT IF THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA WAS THERE, A
SUPERINTENDENT JOEL KLEIN,
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN --
OR CHANCELLOR OF THE SCHOOLS IN
NEW YORK, SPOKE EXACTLY TO THE
TRANSFORMATION MODELS.
AND AGAIN, WHAT WORKS IN NEW
YORK CERTAINLY DOESN'T WORK IN
PINE CITY, MINNESOTA, OR PARTS
OF NORTH CAROLINA.
YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TEACHERS
AVAILABLE AND PLENTY OF
PRINCIPALS AVAILABLE IN NEW YORK
CITY.
SO I THINK YOU NEED MORE
FLEXIBILITY AND TRANSFORMATION
MODELS THAN -- IN THIS BILL THAN
SUGGESTS, AND MAYBE
THAT'S IN THE MANAGER'S BILL
NOW.
BUT JOEL KLEIN IS A
SUPERINTENDENT AND HE SPOKE TO
THE TRANSFORMATION MODELS AND HE
SAID THAT THE TRANSFORMATION
MODELS GAVE HIM THE ABILITY TO
FIX SCHOOLS THAT WERE FAILING,
SCHOOLS THAT WERE DROPOUT
FACTORIES SO THE VERY THING WE
HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR HERE, LET'S
HAVE TESTIMONY FROM
SUPERINTENDENTS.
AREN'T THESE TRANSFORMATION
MODELS SURREAL?
WE HAVE HAD THESE HEARINGS, AND
I WOULD SUGGEST TO THE SENATOR
FROM KENTUCKY WHO JUST CAME IN,
MY -- MY OFFICE WILL PRINT OUT
THE TRANSCRIPTS OF ALL THE
HEARINGS WE HAD, AND YOU CAN
TEACHERS AND
PRINCIPALS AND SUPERINTENDENTS
HAVE SAID.
WE -- WE REALLY -- AND I JUST
HAVE TO SAY THAT THE WORK THAT
YOU DO ON THESE BILLS DOESN'T
START WHEN THE BILL HITS THE
DESK.
IN MY CASE, IT STARTED TWO YEARS
BEFORE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THE
SENATOR ACTUALLY MEANT --
WOULD THE SENATOR
YIELD FOR ONE SECOND?
FOR A QUESTION,
SURE.
IF THE SENATOR
INTERPRETED MY COMMENTS TO BE
PERSONALLY TARGETED AT HIM, THEN
I DO APOLOGIZE.
THE SENATOR SAID -- AND I WROTE
IT DOWN -- "I SPENT MORE TIME ON
THIS BILL THAN ANY OTHER BILL
EVER."
MY CRITICISM ABOUT THE STATEMENT
WAS I SAID IF THE SENATOR GOT
THE BILL WHEN I DID, THEN THERE
IS NOT A WHOLE LOT OF TIME
BETWEEN FRIDAY WHEN I GOT THE
BILL AND WEDNESDAY WHEN IT WAS
MARKED UP.
I -- I DON'T QUESTION FOR A
MINUTE THAT THE SENATOR FROM
MINNESOTA OR HIS STAFF HAS SPENT
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HOURS ON
EDUCATION, BUT IN DEFENSE OF
SENATOR PAUL AND WHAT HE HAS
SOUGHT IS THERE HAS NOT BEEN A
HEARING ON THIS LEGISLATION.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN THIS
868-PAGE BILL THAT OUR COMMITTEE
HAS NOT HAD A HEARING ON, THAT
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK SOMEONE WHO
IS AN EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL.
IN THE ABSENCE OF THE ABILITY TO
DO THAT, YOU, I, THE SENATOR
FROM KENTUCKY, OUR STAFFS ALL
HAVE TO RELY ON WHAT COMMITTEE
STAFF TELLS US, AND THAT IS NOT
THE MOST ACCURATE THING,
REGARDLESS OF WHICH SIDE OF THE
AISLE YOU'RE SEEKING THAT
INFORMATION.
SO I -- I APPRECIATE WHAT THE
SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA HAS SAID.
I THINK THAT EDUCATION SHOULD BE
A PASSIONATE DEBATE, AND WE HAVE
SEEN SOME PASSION HERE THIS
AFTERNOON, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT
THE SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA WOULD
SUGGEST TO SENATOR HARKIN MAYBE
THERE IS A PATHWAY WHERE WE CAN
GET PREDICTABILITY IN THE NUMBER
OF AMENDMENTS, PREDICTABILITY IN
THE TIME IT TAKES TO MARK THIS
UP WITH SOME ACCOMMODATION TO
THE SENSITIVITIES THAT SENATOR
RAND PAUL AND OTHERS HAVE
RAISED, BECAUSE I HOPE THAT THE
SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA WOULD
AGREE WITH ME.
THERE IS NOT AN URGENCY TO DO
THIS THIS WEEK, AND IF WE COULD
WHEN WE COME BACK FROM THE END
OF OCTOBER HAVE A HEARING, I
THINK WE COULD HAVE A PATHWAY TO
MARKUP AND COMPLETION.
HAVING SAID THAT, IT PROBABLY
WILL BE A PRODUCT THAT I
COULDN'T SUPPORT.
I WILL AGGRESSIVELY TRY TO
AMEND, AND I WOULD BE ANXIOUS
AND HOPEFUL THAT I WOULD HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY AGAIN ON THE
CONTENT.
FLOOR TO TRY TO AFFECT ITS
BUT IF THE SENATOR WILL BE AN
ADVOCATE FOR THAT, I THINK THAT
THERE IS A PATHWAY THAT DOESN'T
IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM DELAY
OUR ABILITY IN THIS INSTITUTION
TO CONFERENCE WITH THE HOUSE OR
TO PRESENT THE PRESIDENT A BILL.
I WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED WITH
WHETHER WE PRODUCE THE RIGHT
PRODUCT, AND I THINK WE CAN
ACHIEVE THAT BETTER, AND I THANK
SENATE FOR YIELDING TO ME.
CERTAINLY, AND I --
OBVIOUSLY, I BELIEVE THAT IN THE
MARKUP, WE WILL HAVE THE
DISCUSSION, A HEALTHY DISCUSSION
OF EVERY PART OF THIS BILL, OF
EVERY AMENDMENT, AND I THINK THE
SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA IS
GOING TO BE SO THRILLED WITH MY
AMENDMENTS THAT AT THE END OF
TO NOT JUST
CAST AN AYE VOTE ON THE BILL BUT
AN ENTHUSIASTIC ONE.
APOLOGY.
MY -- I DON'T -- I ACCEPT YOUR
I DON'T THINK YOU SAID EXACTLY
WHAT YOU SAID YOU SAID.
SO WHAT YOU SAID WAS IF THE
SENATOR SPENT -- AND IT'S NOT
WORTH GOING INTO.
THE POINT IS THAT YOU WORK ON
A -- YOUR WORK ON A BILL DOESN'T
START WHEN YOU GET THE -- WHEN A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS WRITTEN.
MOST OF THE WORK COMES BEFORE.
AND I -- I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO
.
UNDERSTAND THAT WHO IS LISTENING
I CAN'T -- THIS BILL HAS BEEN A
TREMENDOUS PASSION OF MINE.
SUCCESS.
YOU MENTIONED PASSION FOR
GROWTH MODEL.
WE HAD SENATOR BENNET WHO IS
SUPERINTENDENT -- WHO WAS
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DENVER
SCHOOLS, AND A VERY SUCCESSFUL
ONE.
WHEN I DID MY PRINCIPAL BILL, I
WENT TO A SCHOOL IN ST. PAUL,
MINNESOTA, DAYTONS BLUFF, WHICH
HAD BEEN A FAILED SCHOOL AND WAS
TURNED AROUND BY A SUCCESSFUL
PRINCIPAL, AND THAT PRINCIPAL --
SO I HAD A ROUNDTABLE THERE.
THIS IS VERY EARLY IN MY TENURE
HERE.
AND ONE OF THE PRINCIPALS SAID
YOU KNOW THOSE NO CHILD LEFT
AUTOPSIES.
BEHIND TESTS, WE CALL THEM
WHAT HE MEANT WAS YOU TAKE THEM
AT THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU TAKE
THEM IN LATE APRIL, AND YOU
DON'T GET THE RESULTS UNTIL THE
KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL, AND THEN
AGGREGATED.
IN MINNESOTA, I HAVE SOMETHING
THAT TEACHERS -- I HAVE
SOMETHING.
WE HAVE SOMETHING IN MINNESOTA
THAT THE TEACHERS,
SUPERINTENDENTS AND PRINCIPALS
AGREE ON, SOMETHING CALLED THE
NWEA TESTS.
WHAT ARE THOSE?
TESTS.
THEY ARE COMPUTER-ADAPTIVE
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
IN MINNESOTA, VERY OFTEN THEY
TAKE THESE THREE TIMES A YEAR.
THEY ARE COMPUTER TESTS.
SO THE TEACHERS GET THE RESULTS
RIGHT AWAY.
THE PRINCIPAL CALLED THE NO
CHILD LEFT BEHIND TESTS
AUTOPSIES BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE
OUT OF SCHOOL, THE TEACHER CAN'T
USE IT TO INFORM INSTRUCTION.
IF YOU DO A COMPUTER TEST, YOU
GET THEM RIGHT AWAY, THE TEACHER
CAN USE THE TEST TO INFORM THEIR
INSTRUCTION.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT MOST PARENTS
THOUGHT WE WERE DOING HERE IN
THE FIRST PLACE WHEN PRESIDENT
BUSH FIRST SUGGESTED THIS WHOLE
THING.
SECONDLY, THEY ARE ADAP TIFF.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WELL, THAT MEANS IF A KID GETS A
QUESTION RIGHT, KEEPS GETTING
QUESTIONS RIGHT, THE QUESTIONS
GET HARDER.
IF THEY START GETTING QUESTIONS
WRONG, THEY GET EASIER.
IT'S MUCH MORE DIAGNOSTIC.
AND YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHERE A
CHILD IS.
RIGHT NOW, THE NO CHILD LEFT
BEHIND TESTS FORBID THE -- THESE
ASSESSMENTS FROM GOING OUTSIDE
GRADE LEVEL.
ARNE DUNCAN, THE SECRETARY OF
EDUCATION, SAID SOMETHING REALLY
PROFOUND.
HE SAID THAT A SIXTH GRADE
TEACHER TAKES A KID FROM A THIRD
GRADE LEVEL OF READING TO A
FIFTH GRADE LEVEL IS A SUCCESS,
IS A GREAT TEACHER, BUT UNDER NO
CHILD LEFT BEHIND, THE WAY IT IS
NOW, THAT TEACHER IS A FAILURE.
THAT MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.
MEASURE GROWTH.
THAT'S WHAT THE SENATOR FROM
COLORADO WAS TALKING ABOUT.
WE NEED TO MEASURE GROWTH.
AND THAT'S NO MYSTERY.
I GO AROUND SCHOOLS, AND I
REMEMBER BEING IN A SCHOOL IN
ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA.
I WAS INTRODUCED BY THE
PRINCIPAL TO THE TEACHER WHO WON
TEACHER OF THE YEAR, A MATH
TEACHER.
AND I MET THE MATH TEACHER AND
THE MATH TEACHER SAID GROWTH.
THIS IS NOT A MYSTERY.
WE HAVE HAD HEARINGS ON THIS AND
WE KNOW THIS.
WE NEED TO BE MEASURING HOW MUCH
KIDS GROW.
AND THAT WILL HELP KIDS THAT ARE
FROM POOR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY
ARE STARTING ON A LOWER LEVEL,
BUT IF THE SCHOOL IS GOOD AND
THEY ARE INCREASING THEIR
GROWTH, THEY WILL BE REWARDED.
COLLEGE.
MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM
AT THE PAGES NOW WHO
ARE JUNIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
MY DAUGHTER IMMEDIATELY OUT OF
COLLEGE BECAME A TEACHER AT A
SCHOOL IN THE BRONX.
97% FREE AND REDUCED PRICE
LUNCHES.
THIRD GRADE TEACHER.
SHE HAD TO TAKE HER KIDS --
THAT'S THE FIRST YEAR THEY DO NO
CHILD LEFT BEHIND TESTING.
SHE HAD TO TAKE HER KIDS FROM
HERE TO HERE TO THIS ARBITRARY
LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY IN ORDER TO
BE CONSIDERED A SUCCESS, WHERE
15 MILES TO THE NORTH A TEACHER
IN WESTCHESTER HAD TO TAKE HER
KIDS FROM HERE TO HERE.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
IN MINNESOTA, I LEARNED FROM MY
TEACHERS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO
THAT THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED
THE RACE TO THE MIDDLE.
WHAT'S THAT?
WELL, NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, THE
WAY IT WORKS NOW, IS THAT THERE
BAR OF
PROFICIENCY THAT A TEACHER IS
JUDGED ON, AND WHAT PERCENTAGE
OF THEIR KIDS IN THESE DIFFERENT
SUB GROUPS MEET OR EXCEED THAT
BAR OF PROFICIENCY.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THE SMARTEST KID OR THE -- THE
SMARTEST KID IN THE CLASS, THAT
KID IS GOING TO PASS NO MATTER
WHAT.
THERE'S NOTHING YOU COULD DO TO
THAT KID THAT WON'T MAKE THAT
KID EXCEED THE BAR OF
PROFICIENCY.
SO GUESS WHAT?
THE TEACHER IGNORES THAT KID.
THE KID AT THE BOTTOM, THE MOST
CHALLENGED KID, WELL, NO WAY
THAT KID IS GOING TO MAKE IT, SO
LET'S IGNORE THAT KID.
RAISE TO THE MIDDLE.
KIDS RIGHT AT THE -- BELOW AND
RIGHT ABOVE PROFICIENCY, THOSE
ARE THE KIDS THAT ARE DRILLED,
DRILLED AND KILLED, AS THEY CALL
IT IN MINNESOTA.
WE KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH NO
CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
IT FOR A
YEAR AND A HALF IN HEARINGS.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE
RANKING MEMBER.
HE MENTIONED TODAY THESE
COMPUTER HP ADAPTIVE TESTS IN
THE HEARING -- OR IN THE MARKUP.
THESE THINGS AREN'T MYSTERIES.
MEMBERS WERE WELCOME TO COME TO
THE HEARING.
SOME DIDN'T COME.
BUT THE WORK ON A BILL DOESN'T
START THE DAY THE BILL HITS THE
TABLE.
THE WORK OF A SENATOR, IF THE
SENATOR IS A HARD-WORKING
SENATOR, IS EVERY DAY.
IT'S GOING BACK TO YOUR STATE
AND FINDING OUT WHAT TEACHERS
AND PRINCIPALS AND
SUPERINTENDENTS NEED.
AND IT'S GOING TO THE HEARINGS.
IT'S TALKING TO THE OTHER
MEMBERS AND TO THE CHAIRMAN, TO
THE RANKING MEMBER, AND TO YOUR
STAFF AND YOUR STAFF IS GETTING
INFORMATION FROM OTHER STAFFERS.
NOT JUST THE COMMITTEE STAFF BUT
FROM OTHER STAFFERS.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THIS
THIS -- PEOPLE WITH THE
IMPRESSION THAT WE WORK ONCE THE
BILL HITS THE TABLE.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN --
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR
AND WOULD SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF
A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENIOR SENATOR FROM OHIO.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
DISPENSE WITH THE QUORUM CALL.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE SENATOR IS RECOGNIZED.
I ASK CONSENT THAT
DETAILEE FROM
THE DEPARTMENT BE GIVEN
PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR DURING
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2112.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK TO TWO AMENDMENTS, NOT
CALL THEM UP BUT SPEAK TO TWO
AIMS, IF I CAY.
ONE IS ABOUT BASIC CIVIL RIGHTS
AND FAIR HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS
AND THE OTHER IS ABOUT
COUNSELING AND I WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK ON BOTH AMENDMENTS,
MR. PRESIDENT.
OUR NATION'S FAIR HOUSING
ORGANIZATIONS HELP ENFORCE BASIC
VIEFLTS, SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN
IMPORTANT IN THIS COUNTRY FOR
MANY YEARS.
THEY INVESTIGATE HOUSING
DISCRIMINATION, THEY EDUCATE
RIGHTS.
TENANTS AND HOMEOWNERS OF THEIR
THEY FIGHT THE PERNICIOUS
DISCRIMINATION THAT TARGETS AND
RED LINES LOW-INCOME AMERICANS
IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION NOT ONLY
VIOLATES OUR LAWS, IT IS A
BARRIER TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
THAT'S WHY THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
SUPPORTS A PROGRAM WHICH
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
FAIR HOUSING GROUPS
THEY INVESTIGATE MORTGAGE
LENDING FRAUD AND PREDATORY
LENDING.
THEY INVESTIGATE FORECLOSURE
CASES THAT FORCE HOMEOWNERS OUT
OF THEIR HOMES, A PROBLEM IN THE
PRESIDING OFFICER'S STATE AND MY
STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SIMPLY PUT, FHIP HEMS THE VERY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT EDUCATE THE
PUBLIC AND ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT
PROTECT PEOPLE FROM HOUSING
DISCRIMINATION.
THE PROGRAM'S COST-EFFECTIVE
SAVING H.U.D. MONEY AS IT
STREAMLINES GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AND
EFFICIENTLY INVESTIGATE
COMPLAINTS.
FAIR HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS
INVESTIGATED 65% OF THE NATION'S
COMPLAINTS OF HOUSING
DISCRIMINATION, NEARLY TWICE AS
MANY AS ALL AGENCIES COMBINED.
FAIR HOUSING ADVOCATES IN
CINCINNATI, IN DAYTON AND
TOLEDO, CLEVELAND, AKRON, IN
COLUMBUS IN TOWNS ACROSS
APPALACHIA, OHIO, FIGHT
PREDATORY LENDERS.
FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, A
BARRIER TO SECURITY IS THE
LATEENT DISCRIMINATION OF
WORTHLESS LANDLORDS AND
UNSCRUPULOUS LENDERS.
WITHOUT THE ORGANIZATION, OUR
COUNTRY AND ECONOMY ARE SUBJECT
TO THE VERY DISCRIMINATION THAT
NOT ONLY HURTS INDIVIDUAL
RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS BUT HOLDS
TOO MANY COMMUNITIES BACK.
THAT'S WHY I'M OFFERING THIS
AMENDMENT TO RESTORE FULL
FUNDING TO FHIP IN LINE WITH THE
HOUSE LEVEL.
FATE AND FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING
ENFORCEMENT IS ALREADY STRETCHED
THIN.
IN MY HOME STATE, THE STATE
CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION HAS ONLY
FOUR INVESTIGATORS DEVOTED TO
HOUSING COMPLAINLTSESES.
IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO CUT
PRIVATE FAIR HOUSING PROGRAMS
ANY FURTHER.
THIS AMENDMENT IS SUPPORTED BY
THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON
CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS, THE
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA.
IT IS SUPPORTED BY OHIO
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE DAYTON'S
MIAMI FAIR HOUSING CENTER,
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF
GREATER CLEVELAND, THE COALITION
HOMELESSNESS, AND HOUSING IN
OHIO, THE OHIO C.D.C.
ASSOCIATION, THE TOLEDO FAIR
HOUSING ASSOCIATION AND THE
DAYTON.
HOMEOWNERSHIP CENTER OF GREATER
OWN SUNDAY -- ON SUNDAY,
MR. PRESIDENT, THE MARTIN LUTHER
DEDICATED.
KING JR. MEMORIAL WAS OFFICIALLY
IT IS A REMINDER THAT THE BRUTAL
BEATINGS AND SEGREGATION MAY IN
FACT BE OVER.
BUT THAT OUR FIGHT TO REMOVE THE
STAINS OF DISCRIMINATION ALL TOO
OFTEN CONTINUE.
IT CONTINUES THROUGH THOUSANDS
-- CONTINUES THROUGH THE FIGHT
TO REMOVE THOSE STAINS CONTINUES
THROUGH THOUSANDS OF FAIR
HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS WHO SERVE
AMERICANS.
MILLIONS OF OUR FELLOW
IT CONTINUES WITH THIS BODY
INVESTING IN THESE
ORGANIZATIONS.
AMENDMENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, THAT'S THE FIRST
I ALSO WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT, MR. PRESIDENT, TO -- I
MENTIONED THE ENDORSEMENTS OF
MANY ORGANIZATIONS.
THIS IS A LETTER FROM THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIL RIGHTS
LEGISLATION.
ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORTIVE OUR
I'D LIKE TO ENTER THIS INTO THE
RECORD WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, IT WILL BE INCLUDED
IN THE RECORD.
THANK YOU, MR.
PRESIDENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON A
SECOND AMENDMENT ALSO,
MR. PRESIDENT.
SINCE A PEAK IN 2006, HOUSING
PRICES, AS WE KNOW, IN THIS
COUNTRY HAVE FALLEN BY NEARLY A
THIRD.
TOTAL HOMEOWNER EQUITY SLASHED
IN HALF WITH A LOSS OF MORE THAN
$7 TRILLION.
SOME 6 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE LOST
HOMES SINCE THE HEIGHT OF THE
FINANCIAL CRISIS.
JUST YESTERDAY WE HEARD AING
LEADING REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE TELL AN EDITORIAL
BOARD IN NEVADA THAT HIS
SOLUTION TO THE NATION'S HOUSING
CRISIS IS TO SPEED UP -- TO
FORECLOSURES.
SPEED UP -- THE RATE OF
THIS DESPITE CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT
BASIC LEGAL REQUIREMENTS HAVE
OFTEN BEEN IGNORED, HAVE OFTEN
GONE IGNORED IN FORECLOSURES
PROCEEDINGS.
THIS DESPITE CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT
SOME BANKS HAVE SPECIFICALLY
COMMUNITIES IN
FORECLOSURE.
SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS FOR
THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT
PERSISTENT FORECLOSURES ARE
DRAGGING DOWN PROPERTY VALUES
ACROSS THE NATION.
I REMEMBER SOME YEARS AGO IN
CLEVELAND IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY IN
MY STATE HAVE HAD MORE
FORECLOSURES, EXCEPT FOR THE
MORATORIUM HERE LAST YEAR HAD
MORE FORECLOSURES EVERY YEAR
THAN THE YEAR BEFORE FOR THE
LAST 14 YEARS.
AND I REMEMBER NEIGHBORHOODS IN
CLEVELAND WHERE THERE MIGHT BE
ONLY A COUPLE OF FORECLOSURES ON
A STREET, BUT WE KNEW WHAT
HAPPENED WHEN THOSE HOMES WOULD
BE FORECLOSED ON.
FIRST WHAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY
HAPPEN ON VANDALISM AND
STRIPPING OFF THE ALUMINUM
SIDING AND STEALING THE PIPES
AND THE PROPERTY WOULD BE
DEGRADED, AND THE PROPERTY WOULD
BE IGNORED.
AND WHAT HAPPENED TO OTHER HOMES
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHAT
HAPPENED TO THE PRICES OF, AND
THE VALUES OF THOSE HOMES EVEN
THOUGH PEOPLE WERE PAYING THEIR
HOMES.
MORTGAGE AND STAYING IN THEIR
AND THIS STATEMENT TO THE
NEVADA, TO THE NEVADA NEWSPAPER,
THIS DESPITE THE FACT THAT A
MESSAGE FROM MY
DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE, SENATOR
McCAIN OF ARIZONA, SENATOR
NELSON OF FLORIDA, REPRESENTING
STATES LIKE OHIO THAT HAVE BEEN
DEVASTATED BY HIGH RATES OF
FORECLOSURE.
EARLIER THIS WEEK MY COLLEAGUES
STOOD ON THIS FLOOR THAT WE NEED
TO DO, SOME COLLEAGUES SAID WE
NEED TO DO MORE TO GET PEOPLE A
MORTGAGE THAT THEY CAN AFFORD TO
MAKE THE PAYMENTS ON RATHER THAN
HOMES.
THROWING THEM OUT OF THEIR
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE F. WE'RE
GOING TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY,
WE MUST FIND A STRONGER RESPONSE
TO THE FORECLOSURE CRISIS, NOT
RUSHING THE PROCESS BUT BETTER
MANAGING IT.
RIGHT NOW THE PROVISION OF
HOMEOWNER COUNSELING IS ONE OF
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS WE HAVE
TO DEAL WITH THIS CRISIS.
I REMEMBER TALKING TO FAIR
HOUSING COALITIONS N AND
COUNSELOR ORGANIZATIONS IN
IMMEDIATELY IN
TOLEDO, DAYTON AND ALL OVER MY
STATE TELLING HOW THEY WERE ABLE
TO AVERT ONE FAMILY AT A TIME
FROM FORECLOSURE.
STATE.
WE KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS TO OUR
I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND IN MY STATE
HOW THESE PROGRAMS HELP BETTER A
MORTGAGE PAYMENT PROCESS THAT
HELPS KEEP HOMEOWNERS IN THEIR
HOMES.
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES OF GREATER
CLEVELAND, THE COALITION OF
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING IN
OHIO, ARE LEADERS IN FORECLOSURE
COUNSELING.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN AFFAIRS INVESTS IN THE
HOUSING COUNSELING ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS THESE OHIO
PROGRAMS AND HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS LIKE THEM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
HOUSING COUNSELORS PROVIDE
GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE AND
ADVICE TO HELP FAMILIES MEET THE
HOMEOWNERSHIP.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF TENANCY AND
FORECLOSURE COUNSELING IS
PARTICULARLY VALUABLE TO THOSE
OBVIOUSLY IN DANGER OF LOSING
THEIR HOMES.
ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY THE
URBAN INSTITUTE, HOMEOWNERS WHO
ARE ASSISTED BY MORTGAGE
COUNSELORS HAVE A 60% BETTER
CHANCE OF SAVING THEIR HOMES.
THINK OF THAT.
IF YOU HAVE COUNSELING WITH A
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR, SOMEBODY
YOU AND ASSIST
YOU, THERE'S A 60% BETTER CHANCE
YOU HAVE OF SAVING YOUR HOME
ASSISTANCE.
THAN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT
H.U.D. REQUESTED $88 MILLION FOR
HOUSING COUNSELING FOR EACH OF
THE LAST TWO FISCAL YEARS, YET
LAST YEAR CONGRESS PROVIDED NO
MONEY FOR THIS IMPORTANT
PROGRAM, A PROGRAM THAT KEEPS
PEOPLE IN HAIR HOMES -- IN THEIR
HOMES, HELPS THEIR NEIGHBORS
BECAUSE THIS HOUSE MIGHT NOT BE
FORECLOSED ON, HELPS THOSE
FAMILIES BUILD EQUITY AND
SAVINGS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR
STABLE HOUSES, STABLE FAMILIES,
COMMUNITIES.
STABLE HOMES, STABLE
GIVEN THIS LACK OF FUNDING, I'M
PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL FOR THE
WORK DONE BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE
CHAIR AND RANKING MEMBER IN
PROGRAM.
RESTORING FUNDING TO THIS
SPECIAL THANKS TO SENATOR MURRAY
AND SENATOR COLLINS.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE WORKED HARD TO
FIND $60 MILLION TO FUND THE
PROGRAM.
EFFORTS.
I APPLAUD THEM FOR THEIR
SENATOR SANDERS HAS ALSO BEEN A
CHAMPION OF THIS EFFORT.
EVEN WITH THIS LEVEL OF FUNDING,
THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING
COUNSELING SKPAOEDZ THE LEVEL --
SUCCEEDS THE LEVEL OF SERVICE.
THEY ARE NECESSARY TO HELP
ADVISE BORROWERS PREPARING TO
PURCHASE NEW HOMES.
AND THEY ARE NECESSARY AND VITAL
TO OUR HOUSING ECONOMIC
RECOVERY.
WE KNOW TO PULL OURSELVES OUT OF
RECESSION HISTORICALLY IN THIS
COUNTRY, WE NEED A VIBRANT
MANUFACTURING SECTOR, ESPECIALLY
DRIVEN BY AUTO.
AND WE NEED HOUSING, MORE HOME
CONSTRUCTION, MORE HOME
RENOVATION, APPRECIATION OF
HOUSING PRICES TO PULL OURSELVES
OUT OF RECESSION.
WE'RE DOING OKAY ON THE ONE WITH
AUTO AND MANUFACTURING.
WE'RE NOT DOING NEARLY WELL
ENOUGH FOR HOUSING.
I APPLAUD MY COLLEAGUES FOR
THEIR WORK ON THIS.
I APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT OF
THIS PROGRAM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR
SUPPORTING THE SENATE NUMBER IN
CONFERENCE WHEN IT GETS TO
CONFERENCE.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENIOR SENATOR FROM MARYLAND.
I NOTE THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
QUORUM CALL: