One of the distinguishing characteristics of a democracy is that you have choices, you have options. I am not intimately familiar with the inner workings of the Soviet government. But I have it on good authority that they had elections in…

That is exactly right. The movement described is a spontaneous grass roots movement that started in 2009 in response to an observation that swept across the country that the Federal Government has become too big and too expensive, in part…

There certainly are some similarities. I will point out at the outset there are some differences, one of them being we have, fortunately, actually had the text of this for a little bit longer than I think Congress had the text of the…

The Senator mentioned a few moments ago that in some circumstances there has been some indication that perhaps the Secretary of Homeland Security believes she is above the law. In some respects, when reading through this bill, we can…

I guess it wasn't tough enough and they are trying to make it even tougher. Yes, that is an interesting point. A lot of people got caught up in that kind of mindset even before the bill was released. The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, an…

Yes. Yes. One of the most galling aspects of this entire debate and what has occurred today, as this amendment is being crafted behind closed doors in secret, we have had dozens and dozens of amendments that are written, that have been…

It certainly would have been the case that had we started voting earlier today, I think we could have gotten through the list. I was surprised by what our friend from Vermont said a few minutes ago, suggesting that Republicans have held up…

I suppose in that respect all Senators are equal, but some are simply more equal than others. It is disturbing that happens from time to time, when we discover that the equality that is supposed to serve as the hallmark of this…

Perhaps it is for that reason that for many people the pathway to citizenship component of this bill is perhaps the single most contentious issue. I don't think there is any issue that even comes close to the pathway to citizenship in…

It is interesting. When I have individuals and groups come through my office telling me they would like me to support this bill, I ask them, of course, why. Inevitably they will point to usually just one or two of the countless provisions…

That is one of the reasons why I think if we were to break it up into its constituent parts and debate and vote on each one as a separate bill, I think the American people would be better served. I think more of the American people would…

Dairy farming is risky business. You've heard that from them themselves. These are the folks that are up at 4 a.m., rain, shine, snow or sleet--doesn't matter--7 days a week, 365 days a year milking cows, and then they do it again 12 hours…

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Louisiana [Mr. Vitter] proposes an amendment numbered 1507 to amendment No. 1183. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose…

Mr. President, I quote: He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the…

Mr. President, I rise today to speak to an important amendment to S. 744, the immigration bill now before us. My amendment would cap compensation for private contractors employed for border security at $230,700 a year. That is the same cap…

Essentially what this amendment does, Mr. Chairman, is it eliminates an extremely effective program. Biodiesel is a clean-burning product that's produced by a mix of feedstocks, including soybean oil, wasted grease, and recycled animal…

There we go. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Marino). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes appeared to…

That is one of the things that we don't talk about enough is the fact that this research brings us benefits and cost savings in many other industries that we see reflected every day such as lower costs in energy areas, also lower costs in…