COCHRAN REENLISTS IN SENATE RURAL EDUCATION CAUCUS

Caucus Hopes to Influence Expected Rewrite of “No Child Left Behind” Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today reported that he has agreed to continue serving on the Senate Rural Education Caucus, a bipartisan group that will promote the needs and interests of education in small and rural school districts in the 112th Congress.

Cochran, who has previously served on the caucus, is vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and serves on the appropriations subcommittee that provides funding for the U.S. Department of Education.

“I believe this caucus can play a valuable role in the next two years as Congress addresses the multitude of challenges facing education, on both policy and funding fronts,” Cochran said.

“As Congress begins to consider rewriting the No Child Left Behind law, I will be interested in seeing that the federal government’s approach to public education is best tailored to meet the needs of rural districts in Mississippi,” he said.

Formed in 2003, the caucus develops and provides information to fellow Senators and staff on the implications of federal education policies for small and rural schools.  The caucus has, for instance, promoted the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP).  A grant program within No Child Left Behind law, REAP has given some Mississippi school districts more flexibility to combine federal funds for educational programs.

Reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind law is among the legislative goals outlined for the 112th Congress.

The caucus is led by Senators Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.).  In addition to Cochran, other caucus members include Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ben Nelson (R-Neb.), James Risch (R-Idaho), John Rockefeller (D-W.V.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), John Thune (R-S.D.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.).