John Ensign
The Public Record
Most widely reported
by number of sources- In the November 2004 elections, Nevadans entered a new frontier for casting their votes. We became the first state in the nation to require that voter-verified paper audit trail printers be used with touch-screen voting machines. Not only did our election go off without a hitch, but voters across Nevada left the polls with the knowledge that their vote would be counted and that their vote would be counted accurately. I understand better than most the importance of the integrity of the ballot box. I was at the mercy of a paperless-machine election in my 1998 race for the U.S. Senate. When the votes were tallied with a difference of only a few hundred, I asked for a recount in Clark County, the only county at the time using electronic voting machines. The result of the recount was identical to the first count. That is because there was nothing to recount. After rerunning a computer program, the computer predictably produced the same exact tally. I conceded that race and was elected to Nevada's other Senate seat in 2000. But that experience made me realize the importance of ensuring Americans that their votes will count--it is absolutely fundamental to our democracy. That is why I led the fight for voter verification paper trails in the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) that President Bush signed into law in 2002. A voter-verified paper trail would allow voters to review a physical printout of their ballot and correct any errors before leaving the voting booth.3 sources2005govinfo.gov
- Nevada's slogan is ``Battle Born.'' And Nevadans are proud to use that slogan. It is on our State flag. It reflects the firmness of purpose and the willingness to fight for what is right that is so much a part of the character of Nevadans. This is as true today as it was when our State entered the Union during the Civil War. I am humbled to stand here in this Chamber where many distinguished Nevadans have preceded me, giants like Pat McCarran, Alan Bible, Howard Cannon, Paul Laxalt, and the man I succeeded, Dick Bryan. None of them forgot the unique culture of the West and their Nevada roots. The nature of the challenges may have changed over the years, but not the nature of the Nevadans fighting to overcome them. In this era of globalization we are condemning our children, and our nation, to an uncertain future if we fail to confront a very different kind of threat--the intractable problems in our public schools. Let me share some troubling statistics with you. If you compare our children to their counterparts in other nations, the most academically advanced American high school seniors ranked 15 out of 16--second from the bottom--on an advanced math test and 16 out of 16 on an advanced physics test. This is unacceptable. Our public schools are failing our children. And unless we address this problem now--today--we will bear the consequences for a generation or more.2 sources2001govinfo.gov
- I rise in support of H.R. 3396, the Defense of Marriage Act. The need to enact legislation to preserve the fundamental definition of matrimony as a union between one man and one woman is pressing and necessary. This legislation is not about mean-spirited antics or election year politics. A pending ruling by a Hawaii court could legalize same-sex marriages in that State. According to the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution, unless Congress says otherwise, the other 49 States in the Union would be required to abide by the Hawaii decision. Requiring the entire Nation to discard the will of the clear majority of Americans undermines our democracy and would deny other States the opportunity to enforce laws banning the recognition of same-sex marriages. The time-honored and unique institution of marriage between one man and one woman is a fundamental pillar of our society and its values. The Defense of Marriage Act does not deny citizens the opportunity-- either through their elected representatives or ballot referendum--to enact legislation recognizing same-sex marriages or domestic partnerships within their own borders. The Defense of Marriage Act says that States should determine their own policy and that the Federal Government has a right to define who is entitled to benefits as a spouse.2 sources1996govinfo.gov
- last year when the Senate was considering the national intelligence reform bill, we adopted several recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. One of those recommendations was to hire an additional 2,000 new custom and border protection agents each year for the next 5 years. This body agreed with the recommendation. We agreed that our national security depended on such an investment, and we enacted that recommendation into law. We are now considering the Homeland Security appropriations bill. The bill that was reported out of committee includes funding for 1,000 new agents in the coming fiscal year. I understand there are problems with training 2,000 agents. My amendment as modified would provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with the discretion to shift $367 million to hire 2,000 new agents next year. This amendment is fully offset. I rise today to urge the Senate to adopt my amendment so that we can keep the commitment that we made to the American people last year. I thank John McCain for cosponsoring our amendment. The threat of illegal border crossing by people who wish to kill us is very real. The 9/11 Commission found that many of the 19 hijackers that attacked on 9/11 could have been placed on watch lists. But without adequate staff and coordinated efforts, the terrorists were allowed to enter the United States. Once here they learned how to fly airplanes at American flight schools. They conducted surveillance to assess our weaknesses.…2 sources2005govinfo.gov
Apr 20, 2011
Previously, he announced he wouldn't seek re-election in 2012 following revelations he had an affair with an aide's wife.
Apr 8, 2011
I say hello to my good friend from Delaware. He made some very good comments. I want to follow up and talk about this debate we are having. The Senator from Tennessee, Senator Corker, talked about the need to forget about whether you are a…
Mar 30, 2011
I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Franken). Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________
Mar 30, 2011
This is a very important hearing today and I want to thank all of our witnesses who have taken the time out of their schedules to testify.
Mar 30, 2011
I rise to speak in reaction to President Obama's speech this week outlining what he believes to be in our Nation's interest in Libya. Last week, while working in Nevada, many of my constituents asked what my thoughts were on the military…
Mar 30, 2011
The headline reads: Darfuries feel betrayed by Libya no-fly zone. We didn't step in in Darfur. We also didn't help the people of Rwanda. The last time we did try to police a situation such as this was in Somalia, and we all know how that…
Mar 29, 2011
S. Res. 85 received the same amount of consideration that a bill to name a post office has. This legislation was hotlined.
Mar 17, 2011
I want to talk for a while on the Hutchison amendment which says that, while the health care reform bill President Obama and the majority passed last year is going through the courts, any related provisions would be put on hold until the…
Mar 10, 2011
I wish to talk about gasoline prices and energy. Just a few years ago, this Nation was in the middle of an energy crisis not unlike the one we are in today. Back then Nevadans were confronted with record prices at the gas pump, and this…
Mar 9, 2011
The House bill needs to be the floor for what we accomplish out of this process. The House bill isn't nearly enough, and we cannot allow this process to capture a modest improvement in the name of compromise by watering it down to a…