[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 183 (Monday, December 3, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S14697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RETIREMENT OF SANDRA COOK

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I welcome this opportunity to pay tribute 
to Sandra Cook who retired last week from the Department of Education. 
For almost 20 years, Sandra has worked in the Office of Legislative and 
Congressional Affairs at the Department, providing invaluable and 
dedicated service. She will be missed by all who worked with her, both 
at the Department and in Congress.
  Improving education for each and every child in this country is one 
of the most important priorities for our Nation, and Sandra has been 
committed to that priority throughout her dedicated service. Her 
commitment to education began in the classroom in Indiana as a teacher 
of history and language arts. She came to Washington to work in 
Congress and then moved to the Department of Education. From there she 
has provided constant guidance and support to us as we work to improve 
Federal education policy. She has been an indispensable part of the 
past two reauthorizations of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act--the Improving America's Schools Act and the No Child Left Behind 
Act, as well as many other Federal education bills.
  We all owe Sandra an immense debt of gratitude for her outstanding 
work. She knows the education laws inside and out, and she always goes 
the extra mile. She has always been able to work in a truly bipartisan 
way with Members of both parties. She doesn't just get the job done--
she gets it done well, and with grace. We have been fortunate to have 
her.
  As Sandra retires to Illinois, I know her colleagues at the 
Department of Education will miss her. Her knowledge and skills will be 
difficult to replace. Certainly, all of us in Congress and our staffs 
who have had the privilege of working with her will miss her assistance 
and support. I wish her a long and happy and healthy retirement. She 
has certainly earned it.

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