Thank you again, Congressman Pocan, not just for your friendship, but tonight for organizing and bringing us here to have this conversation. For us in Illinois and Wisconsin, throughout the country it has been a harsh winter. Everyone has…

Madam Speaker, nearly 4 years ago, I stood in this Chamber and talked about a deficit that was chipping away at our government. No, it wasn't the fiscal deficit, though that certainly is weighing us down; rather I warned of the deficit of…

the United States is prepared to make sure that it doesn't happen by military force.

We want a good and productive relationship, it seems to me, with the People's Republic of China. But I also know from history that Beijing respects strength. Peace through strength.

Thirteen years later, where are we in that submarine sale?

Would you also agree that something Beijing does understand is that big stick of Teddy Roosevelt's?

Madam Chair, this legislation before us today claims to resolve a local and narrow conflict over water rights between the U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado ski industry. Unfortunately, this bill's scope and impacts have been expanded…

I thank the Senator. Senator McCain and I were in Ukraine at the end of last year. We had the privilege to speak on the Maidan in front of about half a million people, maybe even a million people who were there protesting the current…

Mr. President, I rise today to discuss a widespread problem affecting rural communities in South Dakota and across our country. This issue represents both a public safety and economic issue for rural America. For far too long, rural…

Madam President, I wish to speak about U.S.-Taiwan relations. In just a few weeks, on April 10, 2014, we will recognize the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, TRA. This important legislation has served as the…

I thank Mr. James Lankford from Oklahoma. What a wonderful colleague you are. You are absolutely correct, and the only reason I stand in front of you today is truly the biggest threat I had as a business owner, from a gentleman who…

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the table. The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 3, line 18, insert ``(including any federally recognized Indian tribe)'' after ``water user''…

Madam Chair, protecting the rights of the sovereign tribes is a top priority of mine, and I am proud to work with Congressman Tipton in supporting the Water Rights Protection Act and offering this amendment to clarify protections for the…

this Congress has an obligation to make sure that our men and women in uniform have the tools, the equipment, and the training and the leadership that they deserve.

it is just not right that we are trying to balance our budgets, our Nation's budgets on the backs of our men and women in uniform and their families.

And one thing that comes up consistently is the Chinese threat and specifically A2/AD [anti-access/area denial].

In Indian country, we have learned that we can never just take something that the Federal Government says and take it as truth. We have to always verify. This is simply trying to clarify that the Federal Government has no rights to come…

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Secretary James, General Welsh, thank you so much for joining us today, and thanks for your service to our Nation.