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   Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I once again bring the attention of the Senate to the importance of completing action on an issue that is of fundamental importance to families all across this country, and that is the role of the Congress in addressing the elementary and secondary education challenge which exists across our Nation in which local communities and States are taking action and in which the Federal Government is also a partner.

   We have had a total of 6 days debate. Of the 6 days, 2 were debate only. We were not permitted to have votes on 2 of those 6 days, so we had 4 days of debate and votes. We had a total of 8 amendments. One was a voice amendment. There were 7 rollcalls. Of the 7 rollcalls, 2 of those rollcalls were on amendments we had indicated we were prepared to accept. Essentially, we have had 4 days of debate and 5 votes on this legislation.

   This is what our good Republican friends have indicated to us about the priority of education.

   In January 6, we have our majority leader saying:

   Education is going to be a central issue this year. For starters, we must reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. That is important.

   These are his remarks to the U.S. Conference of Mayors luncheon on January 29:

   But education is going to have a lot of attention, and it's not going to be just words.

   On June 22, he said:

   Education is No. 1 on the agenda of Republicans in the Congress this year.

   In remarks to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on February 1, 2000, he said:

   We're going to work very hard on education. I have emphasized that every year I have been majority leader, and Republicans are committed to doing that.

   On February 3, in a speech to the National Conference of State Legislatures, he said:

   We must reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Education will be a high priority in this Congress.

   Congress Daily, on April 20, said this:

   Lott said last week that his top priorities in May include an agriculture sanctions bill, ESEA reauthorization, and passage of four appropriations bills.

   May 1:

   This is very important legislation. I hope we can debate it seriously and have amendments in the education area. Let's talk education.

   On May 2, I asked Senator LOTT:

   On ESEA, have you scheduled a cloture vote on that? Senator Lott said:

   No, I have not....... But education is No. 1 in the minds of the American people all across the country, in every State, including my own State. For us to have a good, healthy, and even a protracted debate and amendments on education I think is the way to go.

   On May 9, at the time when the legislation was pulled down, I asked the majority leader:

   As I understand, we will have an opportunity to come back to ESEA next week. Is that the leader's plan?

   He said:

   That is my hope and intent.

   We are about to go out for a period of 10 days. We are reaching the end of May. We have no end in sight for the completion of legislation dealing with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. We have been prepared to enter into short time agreements on the various proposals. I don't know of a single amendment on this side on which we could not enter into a time agreement of 1 hour equally divided. We put that forward and we have outlined in detail the various education amendments that we had intended to offer. But we are not getting focus, attention, and priority on this legislation.

   I don't believe the American people want us to stonewall on the issue of education. I don't think they want the Senate gagged from having a full debate, discussion and action. We have had other legislation, such as the bankruptcy bill, that went for 15 or 16 days of debate before completion. We can take the time that is necessary and also complete the work on the appropriations bills. But we are serious about bringing this matter to the floor. We are going to raise it continuously. We want to take action. We think families across this country know appropriations are important, but those appropriations are not going to actually be expended until the fall. Families want to know, as we go on into this year, what we are going to do on education and education policy. We owe it

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   I yield the floor.

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