Why do I oppose the rule? I oppose the rule, first, because this rule, if it moves forward, would allow for the Republican budget, which we know could pass this body, with these huge cuts. I think we need to go back to the drawing board…

I want to thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for making it very plain in terms of what their budget does and does not do. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule and the underlying bill. Yes, I am a member of the Budget…

The Civil Rights Act, the Criminal Justice Act, Food Stamp Act, Older Americans Act, Social Security amendments, Voting Rights Act, HUD, all of these programs, Higher Education Act, these are initiatives that you are cutting that provide…

Those who make that argument--those who suggest that by passing this bill we would reduce the bargaining power of prosecutors-- are mistaken. The sentencing commission data on this point shows that the longer a mandatory minimum sentence…

Yes, and I would like to conclude my remarks in a moment by wrapping up. Before I do that, though, I notice on the floor with us is my friend Senator Whitehouse, who happens to be another supporter and cosponsor of this bill and who is…

It is not true. It is simply inaccurate. So those who insist that our exploding Federal prison population somehow has nothing to do with the explosive use of mandatory minimum prison sentences within our Federal system are simply wrong. In…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to grant floor privileges to a member of my staff, Derek Brown, through the end of the day. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to enter into a colloquy with the senior Senator from Illinois and the junior Senator from New Jersey, as well as the junior Senator from Arizona. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…

Madam President, we rise today to speak in favor of the Smarter Sentencing Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that would make targeted reforms to mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. I was proud to join my…

Madam President, we have new research that shows there are two big problems we face as a result of these mandatory minimum sentences within our Federal system. First, they are not needed to ensure public safety in many instances, and…

Madam President, I thank the Senator from New Jersey for this question, which really cuts to the heart of many of the most important reasons why we feel this bill needs to become law. First, the Smarter Sentencing Act would reduce Federal…

I thank Senator Whitehouse. Mr. President, I would like to conclude by thanking my colleagues for their help. First of all, thanks to Senator Durbin for working with this Senator over the last couple of years in developing this…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Tribute to Brian Phillips

Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to a gentleman from Rosebud, TX, who has helped this Senator from Utah on occasions too numerous to count and in ways impossible to measure. For over 4 years Brian Phillips has dutifully served…

Madam President, in November 2014, the President of the United States issued a series of Executive orders effectively granting amnesty to millions of people who were in the United States unlawfully, outside of what our laws allow--laws…

Madam President, I move to table the McConnell amendment No. 258 for the purposes of offering my amendment No. 265, and I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. The…

In the process of thanking Chairman Kline and Ranking Member Scott and the Committee on Education and the Workforce and Chairman Sessions and Ranking Member Slaughter and the rest of the Committee on Rules, I yield the balance of my time…

I want to thank my friend from the Hoosier State for working with me on this. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) to address his support.