I wish to recognize a friend and colleague, Floyd McKinley Sayre, Jr., who recently departed this life. I came to know Floyd many years ago and interacted with him while serving in the West Virginia House of Delegates, U.S. House of…

I call up amendment No. 1393. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The Senator from West Virginia [Mrs. Capito] proposes an amendment numbered 1393 to amendment No. 1116.

today I wish to celebrate the christening of the United States Navy's T-ESB 4 Expeditionary Sea Base, USNS Hershel ``Woody'' Williams taking place on October 21, 2017. This vessel is named after the proud West Virginian and last surviving…

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To help provide tax relief to middle-class Americans by…

Thank you, Madam President. I would like to speak, for my 1 minute, about this amendment, which prioritizes tax relief for the middle class over the State and local tax deduction, which disproportionately benefits the wealthy and high…

I am very pleased to be here on the floor of the U.S. Senate with my colleague, the Senator from North Dakota, who just talked a lot about some of the details but also some of the results of the tax reform that we are talking about. Also…

I would like to take a moment to celebrate the christening of the USNS Hershel ``Woody'' Williams, T-ESB 4. This expeditionary sea base ship, the second of its kind, is named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient and West Virginia icon…

I appreciate that. And the fact that you served as Inspector General at a variety of levels, maybe you might want to explain how that prepared you for the job that we're asking you to do or that you're asking us to confirm you to do.

Let us know if we can help.

Not that you need more money, even though everybody needs more money.

And then finally, if you are asked by the President to render your assessment and evaluation, do you feel confident you can speak truth to power?

First of all, the most important: What do you think is the greatest security risk that the United States of America faces?

Do you feel--I'm sure you looked at the budget now. Are you siloed? Are you able to move money to where you know the critical need is?

I think we can do a better job.

I am concerned about if we think we are going to get reliability simply switching over to gas.

I want to see us spend more research dollars in defining the ways to make gas more reliable.

I am very concerned about the reliability of this.

I don't see any daylight between you and me on this subject, particularly as it relates to reliability.