[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 176 (Monday, December 7, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S8433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE NEW CONGRESS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, last November the 
American people elected a new Congress to get Washington working again. 
Nearly every day seems to bring more signs that we are. Over the 
weekend, President Obama signed the FAST Act, a multiyear highway bill, 
into law. It represents a significant departure from years of short-
term extensions and congressional inaction. In fact, the FAST Act is 
the longest term highway bill to pass Congress in almost two decades, 
providing 5 full years of highway funding.
  Here is what Kentuckians for Better Transportation--a top 
transportation advocacy organization in my State--had to say about it:

       After many, many years of short term continuing resolutions 
     we finally have a long term authorization that will give our 
     states the opportunity to plan for and implement major road 
     projects. . . . We can [now] plan for the future.

  That is because in a new and more open Senate, Senator Inhofe, a 
Republican, and Senator Boxer, a Democrat, were able to work together 
for its passage. Senator Boxer herself called it ``a major 
accomplishment.''
  Here is another major accomplishment: the Every Student Succeeds Act. 
It is a bipartisan, reformist replacement for No Child Left Behind. 
Pundits in Washington could never agree on how to replace No Child Left 
Behind. The issue went unresolved for many years, but in a new and more 
open Senate, Senator Alexander, a Republican, and Senator Murray, a 
Democrat, worked hard and found success in the bill before us. The 
House already passed it, 359 to 64. The Senate previously passed a very 
similar version of the bill, 81 to 17.
  Tomorrow we should work together to pass it for a second and final 
time and send it to the President for his signature. It will be the 
latest important achievement for the American people from a new 
Congress that is back to work and back on their side.
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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