releases: https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=f27069b5-0966-4717-befd-366089115df4
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=f27069b5-0966-4717-befd-366089115df4 | Senate to Vote Today on Landmark Education Reform Bill | 2015-12-09 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | KY | Mitch McConnell | M000355 | www.mcconnell.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding bipartisan education reform, another in a series of bipartisan accomplishments in the 114th Congress: Some questioned whether Washington could ever agree on a replacement for No Child Left Behind. They neednt question any longer. Just consider todays headline from the Associated Press: Outdated education law up for major makeover in Senate. This morning, we expect that a new Senate thats back to work will send the Every Student Succeeds Act to the President for his signature. This forward-looking replacement for a broken law would open new opportunities for our kids, and put education back in the hands of those who understand their needs best: parents, teachers, states, and school boards. This bipartisan legislation would strengthen charter schools. This bipartisan legislation would prevent distant bureaucrats from imposing Common Core. This bipartisan legislation would substitute one-size-fits-all federal mandates for greater state and local flexibility. In short, its conservative reform designed to help students succeed instead of helping Washington grow. Its a significant achievement for our country. I want to thank everyone who helped make this moment possible. At the top of that list are two Senators. Theres Senator Alexander, a former Education Secretary from Tennessee a Republican. Theres Senator Murray, a former preschool teacher from Washington a Democrat. They worked hard, they worked across the aisle, and they worked in good faith. Their success in this effort is our countrys gain. Its a win for parents. Its a win for dedicated teachers. Most importantly, its a win for children, because these young Americans deserve the enhanced opportunities the bill would provide. Heres something else we know about what Senator Alexander and Senator Murray accomplished. Its a testament to what a new and more open approach can bring to the legislative process. It gives Senators of both parties more of a say. It gives Senators of both parties more of a stake. And so, Senators are more likely to be interested in working together and seeing good ideas through to completion. Thats just what weve seen here. Heres how Senator Murray put it: I am very proud of the bipartisan work we have done on the Senate floordebating amendments, taking votes, and making this good bill even better. Heres how Senator Alexander put it: The bill is just one more example that Congress is back to work. I couldnt agree more. Finding a serious replacement for No Child Left Behind eluded Washington for years. Today it will become another bipartisan achievement for our country. I urge every colleague to join me in voting to send this forward-looking, conservative reform to the Presidents desk. Lets vote to help every student succeed by passing a bill NPR calls a sea change in the federal approach and The Wall Street Journal hails as the largest devolution of federal control to the states in a quarter-century. *** The new Congress and the new Senate have had a habit this year of turning third rails into bipartisan achievements. You might say we did so on highways and transportation last week. You might say were doing so on schools and education this week. Weve also overcome significant obstacles to pass important legislation that would protect Americans privacy online through the sharing of cyber threat information, that would help fight against unfair trade barriers, that would help our military modernize and prepare for future threats, and that would bring hope to victims of deplorable crimes who suffer in the shadows. But when it comes to the truest of third rails in American politics, some boil that down to just two phrases. Medicare. Social Security. We all know that positive action will be needed if we care about saving these programs for future generations. Republicans and Democrats are both aware of this inescapable fact. Yet too many politicians have been conditioned to believe that bringing one comma of positive reform to either law is political suicide. Well, bipartisan majorities in the new Congress voted to change a lot more than just commas in both laws. We took bipartisan action on Medicare, reforming a broken payment system that threatened seniors care. We took bipartisan action on Social Securitys disability insurance component, enacting the most significant reform in a generation. As a result of these bipartisan reforms, we put a permanent end to Congress annual Doc Fix drama, we brought reform to a program for disabled Americans that was scheduled to go broke next year, and we broke through on a bipartisan basis an important psychological barrier thats held back broader positive action for the American people. The scale of what this new Congress was able to achieve on these issues is noteworthy, but its important for another reasonit clears a path for future wins for our constituents. Thats good news for our country today. Thats good news for future generations tomorrow. And its another example of a Congress thats back to work for the American people, and back on their side. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |