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Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I support the pending nomination of Mr. Arne Duncan to be Secretary of Education. I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Duncan earlier this month, although I have been aware of his work in Chicago for a number of years. What struck me the most is his focus on doing what is best for the children and his belief that every child can succeed regardless of their background.

During his confirmation hearing in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions--HELP--Committee, Mr. Duncan was asked about what he had accomplished in Chicago as the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools. His support for charter schools, public school choice, performance pay for teachers and school leaders was highlighted at the hearing. He described how he had closed low-performing schools in Chicago because they were not providing children the education they needed. He also spoke of the important role teachers have and how we need not only to attract but retain quality teachers. He believes that children have one chance to get a good education, and as adults we need to make sure they have that opportunity to learn and achieve.

Historically, education has been a bipartisan issue. The HELP Committee has an excellent track record for getting bills passed and signed into law as a result of a strong bipartisan process. Mr. Duncan did not hesitate to commit to establishing and maintaining a cooperative working relationship with all Senators on the HELP Committee, Democrat or Republican, by promptly responding to any written or phone inquiries, sharing information as soon as it becomes available, and directing his staff to do the same. He also agreed that regulations promulgated under his direction should be based on legislative authority. Despite the recognition that it is easier to start something than to end it, he also pledged to target resources on programs that work and to eliminate those programs that don't. The members of the committee were impressed with his answers to our questions, and it was evident from our comments that he enjoys strong bipartisan support. I am hopeful that support will show itself by our vote today.

Mr. Duncan is no stranger to the challenges that he will face as Secretary of Education. He understands the important issues that will affect every child and every schoolroom throughout the United States. His track record with a major urban school district is well known. However, I did caution Mr. Duncan that I will remind him regularly and often of the unique challenges that rural and frontier schools and students face. Congress and the Department of Education need to work together to make sure that every school has the tools and the flexibility needed to help students develop the knowledge and skills required to be successful in the 21st century.

We cannot afford to have students leaving high school--and college--without completing their programs of study. Mr. Duncan and I agree that we have to build upon the successes of No Child Left Behind, coordinate efforts across programs including Head Start, career and technical education and workforce programs under the Workforce Investment Act, and reduce the barriers nontraditional students face to obtaining education that will provide the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in the 21st century. Our country's future depends on our ability to reach this goal.

It is no secret--good skills lead to good jobs. Maintaining those skills through a lifetime of learning will lead to a good career. Mr. Duncan understands this and the fact that the workplace isn't what it used to be. In this global, technology-driven economy, school is never out. Today's workplace demands an ever-changing workforce that can adapt to the requirements and skills of the new high-tech jobs that are in such high demand. Keeping workers' abilities current will be vital if they are to continue to find the kind of good jobs they will need to support their families and maintain a consistently high standard of living. I was pleased to see that Mr. Duncan supports the role community colleges can play in providing this education and training and understands the need to support and accommodate the growing population of nontraditional students in our postsecondary education institutions.

I am pleased to be able to join the distinguished chairman of the committee, Senator KENNEDY, in supporting the confirmation of Mr. Duncan to be the next Secretary of Education. Today, this body has the opportunity to confirm an excellent nominee with the skills, experience, and commitment to help students of all backgrounds throughout their lives achieve their own version of the American dream. By confirming Arne Duncan as the next Secretary of Education I am confident that we will have an effective advocate for education and who will work to meet the lifelong education needs of our children and students of all ages.

I intend to vote in favor of Mr. Duncan's nomination to head the Department of Education, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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