Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that upon disposition of S. 896, the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 45, S. 454.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 6; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and there be a period of morning business for up to 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the Republicans controlling the first half and the majority controlling the second half; further, that following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of S. 896, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, under the previous order.

Mr. President, there will be a series of votes beginning at 10:40 in the morning relating to the housing bill we have been working on for several days.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. President, following leader remarks, if any, there will be a period of morning business for up to 1 hour with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the mortgage fraud legislation. At 5 p.m. there will be up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Dodd and Vitter or their designees. At 5:30, the Senate will vote on Vitter amendment No. 1016 and, following that vote, 1017. The second vote will be 10 minutes in duration.

Last week the managers of the bill were able to reach an agreement to limit the number of amendments to the bill. It is my understanding that all amendments will not be debated and voted on here. But we will wait and see. We hope to consider the remaining amendments on the list today and tomorrow so we are able to finish passage of this bill tomorrow.

We will work as late as necessary tomorrow to do our best to complete the legislation.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, in our global economy, a high school diploma has become the minimum qualification necessary for a good job. Yet only about a third of the students who enter 9th grade each fall will graduate 4 years later prepared for college or the workforce.

Another third will leave high school with a diploma, but without the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Yet another third will not graduate from high school within four years, if at all.

This trend, across thousands of our Nation's schools, robs millions of young Americans--particularly poor and minority students--of their best chances to succeed.

Students in Nevada are hit particularly hard. Less than 70 percent of high school students in my home state graduate on time. For African American and Latino students, that number is closer to 50 percent. Nearly 20,000 students in Nevada who started school with the class of 2008 did not graduate with their peers.

Leaving these students behind hurts our economy in both the short- and long-run. These students will cost the State's economy an estimated $5.1 billion in lost wages over the course of

their lifetimes, and will earn an average of almost $10,000 less each year compared to their classmates who finished high school.

Almost 90 percent of the fastest-growing and best-paying jobs require some postsecondary education. We can no longer afford to ignore our unacceptable graduation rates. We can no longer afford to look the other way while more and more students remain unprepared to compete in the global economy. It is not right for these students, and it is not right for our economy.

That is why Senators Murray and Pryor and I are introducing the Secondary School Innovation Fund, a bill to improve the education our students get in America's secondary schools. Our future competitiveness depends on our ability to transform our Nation's middle- and high- schools to meet the needs of the 21st century. This legislation aims to address some of these challenges.

Many of our high schools are too large and impersonal. They lack the rigor and high expectations that we must set for all of our students. Of course, many of the problems that lead students to lose interest or drop out of school begin at the middle-school level.

To meet the challenges of this economy and prepare our young people for life after high school, we must give our middle and high schools the opportunity to try new ideas and approaches that will improve students' performance and their graduation rates.

We must take proven ideas and put them in the schools that need them the most like extending the school day or year; dividing large urban schools into smaller, more personal learning academies; expanding summer learning opportunities for middle-school students; or partnering schools with colleges and universities to allow high school students to take and receive credit for college-level courses.

The good news is that schools throughout my home state of Nevada, and across the country, have already started implementing these sorts of innovative strategies:

The Clark County Schools District in southern Nevada--the Nation's 5th largest and one of the fastest growing--has opened some of the most cutting-edge career and technical academies in the country. With programs in engineering and design, medical occupations, and media communications, a visitor to one of these new academies might think they were on a university campus.

In northern Nevada, the Washoe County School District has teamed up with one of the local community colleges. The Truckee Meadows Community College High School now allows students to take a combination of college and high school courses, and they get credit on both levels. Not only do these students complete more challenging, college-level coursework, but they are laying the groundwork for success after high school.

Encouraging our secondary schools to meet new, demanding and competitive requirements requires replicating these types of school models. But they need adequate Federal support to do so. The Secondary School Innovation Fund gives them just that.

President Obama and Secretary Duncan know this as well. The budget we passed last week proposes a similar fund that would promote innovation and excellence in America's schools. And the economic recovery plan that we passed earlier this year includes unprecedented funding for improving and reforming our education systems. It also creates a $5 billion ``Race to the Top Fund'' that rewards states and districts for innovation.

This bill would give states, districts, schools, institutes of higher education, businesses and community-based organizations $500 million in competitive grants in each of the next 6 years to reform in our Nation's secondary schools. By supporting a variety of strategies for innovation and creating evidence-based, systemic and replicable models of reform, we will improve student achievement and prepare them to succeed in school and then in the workforce.

We also know that every dollar we spend belongs to the American people. That is why we will only help programs that can demonstrate that their students are improving.

Democrats are committed to expanding educational opportunities for all Americans and preparing them to succeed in the global economy. We must give them the best chance to achieve their full potential, and this bill will help make that possible. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, in our global economy, a high school diploma has become the minimum qualification necessary for a good job. Yet only about a third of the students who enter 9th grade each fall will graduate 4 years later prepared for college or the workforce.

Another third will leave high school with a diploma, but without the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Yet another third will not graduate from high school within four years, if at all.

This trend, across thousands of our Nation's schools, robs millions of young Americans--particularly poor and minority students--of their best chances to succeed.

Students in Nevada are hit particularly hard. Less than 70 percent of high school students in my home state graduate on time. For African American and Latino students, that number is closer to 50 percent. Nearly 20,000 students in Nevada who started school with the class of 2008 did not graduate with their peers.

Leaving these students behind hurts our economy in both the short- and long-run. These students will cost the State's economy an estimated $5.1 billion in lost wages over the course of

their lifetimes, and will earn an average of almost $10,000 less each year compared to their classmates who finished high school.

Almost 90 percent of the fastest-growing and best-paying jobs require some postsecondary education. We can no longer afford to ignore our unacceptable graduation rates. We can no longer afford to look the other way while more and more students remain unprepared to compete in the global economy. It is not right for these students, and it is not right for our economy.

That is why Senators Murray and Pryor and I are introducing the Secondary School Innovation Fund, a bill to improve the education our students get in America's secondary schools. Our future competitiveness depends on our ability to transform our Nation's middle- and high- schools to meet the needs of the 21st century. This legislation aims to address some of these challenges.

Many of our high schools are too large and impersonal. They lack the rigor and high expectations that we must set for all of our students. Of course, many of the problems that lead students to lose interest or drop out of school begin at the middle-school level.

To meet the challenges of this economy and prepare our young people for life after high school, we must give our middle and high schools the opportunity to try new ideas and approaches that will improve students' performance and their graduation rates.

We must take proven ideas and put them in the schools that need them the most like extending the school day or year; dividing large urban schools into smaller, more personal learning academies; expanding summer learning opportunities for middle-school students; or partnering schools with colleges and universities to allow high school students to take and receive credit for college-level courses.

The good news is that schools throughout my home state of Nevada, and across the country, have already started implementing these sorts of innovative strategies:

The Clark County Schools District in southern Nevada--the Nation's 5th largest and one of the fastest growing--has opened some of the most cutting-edge career and technical academies in the country. With programs in engineering and design, medical occupations, and media communications, a visitor to one of these new academies might think they were on a university campus.

In northern Nevada, the Washoe County School District has teamed up with one of the local community colleges. The Truckee Meadows Community College High School now allows students to take a combination of college and high school courses, and they get credit on both levels. Not only do these students complete more challenging, college-level coursework, but they are laying the groundwork for success after high school.

Encouraging our secondary schools to meet new, demanding and competitive requirements requires replicating these types of school models. But they need adequate Federal support to do so. The Secondary School Innovation Fund gives them just that.

President Obama and Secretary Duncan know this as well. The budget we passed last week proposes a similar fund that would promote innovation and excellence in America's schools. And the economic recovery plan that we passed earlier this year includes unprecedented funding for improving and reforming our education systems. It also creates a $5 billion ``Race to the Top Fund'' that rewards states and districts for innovation.

This bill would give states, districts, schools, institutes of higher education, businesses and community-based organizations $500 million in competitive grants in each of the next 6 years to reform in our Nation's secondary schools. By supporting a variety of strategies for innovation and creating evidence-based, systemic and replicable models of reform, we will improve student achievement and prepare them to succeed in school and then in the workforce.

We also know that every dollar we spend belongs to the American people. That is why we will only help programs that can demonstrate that their students are improving.

Democrats are committed to expanding educational opportunities for all Americans and preparing them to succeed in the global economy. We must give them the best chance to achieve their full potential, and this bill will help make that possible. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that other than the pending Dodd-Shelby substitute amendment, the following be the only first-degree amendments in order to S. 896, and that they be subject to second-degree amendments which would be relevant to the amendments to which offered, with a managers' amendment, which has been cleared by the managers and the leaders, in order, and that once it is offered, it be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; that upon disposition of the listed amendments, the substitute amendment, as amended, if amended, be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that the bill, as amended, be read the third time, and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill.

The list of amendments is as follows:

Vitter amendment No. 1016, pending; Vitter amendment No.

1017, pending; Corker amendment No. 1019, pending; Grassley

amendment No. 1020; Grassley amendment No. 1021; Casey

amendment No. 1033; Ensign amendment No. 1034; Kohl amendment

No. 1037; Kerry amendment No. 1036; Thune amendment No. 1030;

Boxer amendment No. 1035; DeMint amendment No. 1026; Isakson

amendment 1027; Schumer amendment No. 1031; Reed amendment

No. 1039; Feingold amendment 1032; Reed amendment No. 1040;

Boxer amendment No. 1038.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on Monday, May 4, at 5 p.m., there be 30 minutes of debate, equally divided and controlled between the Senators Dodd and Vitter, or their designees, to debate concurrently the Vitter amendments Nos. 1016 and 1017; that at 5:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the amendments in the order listed above; that no amendments be in order to either amendment prior to a vote in relation thereto, with 2 minutes of debate equally divided prior to each vote, with the second vote 10 minutes in duration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar Nos. 81, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, and 93; that the nominations be confirmed, en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, en bloc; that no further motions be in order; that any statement relating to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I also want the record to reflect how much I appreciate the cooperation of the Republicans in allowing us to clear these nominations. I am disappointed that a number of them, additional ones, have not been cleared. Especially, I am concerned about Cameron Kerry, who is going to be general counsel at Commerce, and hope we can get that done early next week.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m. on Monday, May 4; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and there then be a period for the transaction of morning business for up to 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. Further, I ask unanimous consent that following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of S. 896, under the guidance of Senator Dodd, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009.

Mr. President, I should have mentioned Senator Shelby as well, the ranking member. He and Senator Dodd will be managing that bill.

Mr. President, Senators should expect rollcall votes in relation to the two pending Vitter amendments beginning at about 5:30 on Monday.

We have a long list of amendments, and I would ask Senators--and certainly at this time of the day there are staff--to make sure they understand these amendments are going to have to be offered. We are going to finish this bill on Tuesday, one way or the other. People should come and offer their amendments. There will be debate and we will move to either accept or reject them. Let's try to get this done.

We have a lot more work to do following this. Before we leave here-- just to go over briefly what we have to do--we have to do the legislation dealing with credit cards, which was passed in a huge bipartisan vote in the House yesterday, and we have to do the procurement bill, which is also a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Levin and McCain. We, frankly, are not going to be able to get to the tobacco legislation this work period. I am disappointed we can't do that, but we would not be able to. Then we will have to work very hard that last week to do the supplemental appropriations bill. So we have a lot of work to do.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, following the remarks of the two leaders, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for up to an hour. Senators will be allowed to speak during that time for up to 10 minutes each. The majority will control the first 30 minutes, the Republicans will control the next 30 minutes.

Following morning business, the Senate will begin consideration of the mortgage foreclosure and enhancement mortgage credit legislation. Senator Durbin will be recognized to offer an amendment with reference to mortgage modification--the bankruptcy provision. There will be up to 4 hours of debate on that issue equally divided. There will be an affirmative 60-vote threshold on that amendment. Senators, therefore, should expect the first vote between 2:30 and 3:30 this afternoon.

Upon disposition of that amendment, Senator Dodd will be recognized to offer a Dodd-Shelby substitute amendment. The Senate will then proceed to executive session to consider the nomination of Thomas Strickland to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife. There will be up to 3 hours for debate with respect to the Strickland nomination, 1 hour for the majority, 2 hours for the Republicans, with Senator Bunning controlling 30 minutes of Republican time. Confirmation of the Strickland nomination is also subject to an affirmative 60-vote threshold.