I yield the floor. I think we are ready to vote. ____________________

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll. The result was announced--yeas…

I thank the distinguished senior Senator from Alabama. Before I start, I should note that we have votes scheduled for 12 noon, and I may go a little bit over that, so I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to finish my whole statement…

The IPO, or the Interagency Program Office, is one of the few aspects of her modernization that is mandated by law.

I am willing to give them additional time to do that, but I will not wait forever.

I want to speak briefly on this. Today, the Senate will consider final passage of the ``Minibus #1'' conference report. This package contains the Legislative Branch, Energy and Water Development, and Military Construction and Veterans…

American taxpayers are facing an uncertain time. After rushing to pass an enormously complex, budget-busting tax bill late last year, Republicans in Congress have set the table for the upcoming tax season to be a time of serious confusion…

I have spoken before about Suvash Darnal, an extraordinary Nepalese Dalit activist who was tragically killed in a traffic accident in Virginia on August 15, 2011. Mr. Darnal was only 31 years old when he died, but he had already made more…

the decision, announced last Friday, by Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales to not renew the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, CICIG, after its current term expires next September, was a profound mistake. That mistake…

in the last few months, the Senate has achieved record progress in going through our appropriations bills. As we return from the Labor Day weekend, the Senate has already passed 9 of the 12 Appropriations bills by overwhelming bipartisan…

Too often, rural America has been left behind when it comes to economic development.

It is more important than ever that the Commission's Federal Co-chair be a strong advocate for the communities that desperately need these investments.

That is astonishing. Mr. Carter and I have a bill in to get rid of it.

I think if you don't, you've got to replace your medical center director. I mean, that's so simple and basic that it doesn't need to go a VISN or central office.

I find it amazing that we're even having this meeting today. I mean, it's astonishing to me.

I want to know that he can go there and that the surgeons know that the equipment is sterile.

Most situations, people going to the operating room at a VA hospital is perfectly safe.

H.R. 3891, introduced by Representatives Walberg and Welch, will improve the authority of the State Medicaid Fraud Units.