Thad Cochran

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Change Of Vote

Mr. COCHRAN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I will be compelled to object to that request in that there are some items here that have not been cleared on this side of the aisle. That has just been brought to my attention. To give us an opportunity to check each one of these items in the request, I do object.

Mr. COCHRAN. Reserving the right to object, would the Senator state what the substance of this matter is in the bill?

Mr. COCHRAN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, today I am joined by my distinguished colleague and friend from West Virginia, Mr. Rockefeller, in introducing the National Writing Project Act of 2007. The National Writing Project remains the only Federal program to improve the teaching of writing in America's classrooms. Writing is complex, challenging and it is a basic component of literacy. And, literacy is essential for success in life. A Belden Russonello & Stewart poll announced yesterday that overwhelmingly, Americans want writing taught throughout school curriculum. Research shows that students taught by Writing Project demonstrate more improvement and higher overall writing performance than their peers. Writing is not confined to thesis papers, college essays, and book reports. Writing skills for employment in the 21st Century require not only the grammar, construction and analytical thought of traditional writing, but the skills needed to communicate effectively using new technology. Effective instruction in writing requires teachers with high ability, who continuously develop their teaching skills. A United States Department of Education program since 1991 and nearly 200 nation-wide, university based sites, the National Writing Project annually serves over 140,000 educators through more than 7,000 programs. It is based on a model of teachers teaching teachers: experienced teachers who share and develop the latest and most successful instruction techniques who in turn lead similar local workshops and training sessions for their colleagues. National Writing Project teachers will be here this week to tell their personal stories and provide other information about what the College Board's National Commission on Writing calls ``arguably the most successful teacher network in the United States.'' I hope all Senators will have the opportunity to visit with teachers from their State and I invite all Senators to join Mr. Rockefeller and me in sponsoring this bill. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, today I am joined by my distinguished colleague and friend from West Virginia, Mr. Rockefeller, in introducing the National Writing Project Act of 2007. The National Writing Project remains the only Federal program to improve the teaching of writing in America's classrooms. Writing is complex, challenging and it is a basic component of literacy. And, literacy is essential for success in life. A Belden Russonello & Stewart poll announced yesterday that overwhelmingly, Americans want writing taught throughout school curriculum. Research shows that students taught by Writing Project demonstrate more improvement and higher overall writing performance than their peers. Writing is not confined to thesis papers, college essays, and book reports. Writing skills for employment in the 21st Century require not only the grammar, construction and analytical thought of traditional writing, but the skills needed to communicate effectively using new technology. Effective instruction in writing requires teachers with high ability, who continuously develop their teaching skills. A United States Department of Education program since 1991 and nearly 200 nation-wide, university based sites, the National Writing Project annually serves over 140,000 educators through more than 7,000 programs. It is based on a model of teachers teaching teachers: experienced teachers who share and develop the latest and most successful instruction techniques who in turn lead similar local workshops and training sessions for their colleagues. National Writing Project teachers will be here this week to tell their personal stories and provide other information about what the College Board's National Commission on Writing calls ``arguably the most successful teacher network in the United States.'' I hope all Senators will have the opportunity to visit with teachers from their State and I invite all Senators to join Mr. Rockefeller and me in sponsoring this bill. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. This amendment is cleared on this side of the aisle.

Mr. COCHRAN. This amendment has been cleared on this side.

Mr. COCHRAN. Yes, this has been cleared.

Mr. COCHRAN. Yes, it has been cleared on our side.

Mr. COCHRAN. Yes, this amendment is cleared. We urge its adoption.

Mr. COCHRAN. We have no objection.

Mr. COCHRAN. I confirm that it has been cleared on this side of the aisle.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, there is certainly no objection to the Cochran amendment.

Mr. COCHRAN. It has been cleared on this side.

Mr. COCHRAN. Yes, the amendment has been cleared.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, what is this amendment?

Mr. COCHRAN. We have no objection to this amendment.

Mr. COCHRAN. We have no objection to this amendment.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I do not intend to object but for the purpose of asking if there would be any objection to my offering an amendment on behalf of the Senator from Indiana, Mr. Lugar, and then yielding to the Senator. We wouldn't have any debate, but we would just offer this amendment so it would be pending in the regular order.

Mr. COCHRAN. How much time do I have, Mr. President?

Mr. COCHRAN. I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished Senator from Texas.

Mr. COCHRAN. I yield 10 minutes to the distinguished Senator from Connecticut, Mr. Lieberman.

Mr. COCHRAN. I thank the Chair, and I thank the distinguished Senator from Oregon. Amendment No. 709