I know that you have tried every way possible to address this, and speaking on behalf of my distinguished chairman--pardon me, chairperson--emeritus of the committee, Senator Stabenow, we stand ready to fix that with regards to a statutory…

If we do not get an agreement, the responsibility will fall on this committee.

We want to make certain that that program is utilized in a beneficial way to rural America.

I would like to be made aware of your awareness and any thoughts on how we could improve that Essential Air Service program.

Let me ask a couple of Kansas-oriented questions, one related to the fact that we manufacture lots of airplanes.

The senate bill that best represents the scope of the Plan for Prosperity is the CLEAR Act, S.812, sponsored by Senators Jerry Moran and John Tester.

the Moran amendment is an attempt to address the issue--in fact it is addressing the issue--of the 40-mile requirement contained in the choice act that Congress passed in August. Senators may recall that in August we were successful in…

I thank the Senator from Virginia for yielding to me. First of all, I would like to talk for a moment about the budget. I am pleased that the Senate is debating a budget. We are required by law to pass one by April 15. It has been a while…

I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and call up the amendment I am offering, which is amendment No. 356. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The…

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 establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to…

I would use this opportunity to thank Kansas Guard members who were called to duty in the fight against Ebola in Africa.

I would remind the Presiding Officer of the hearing we had yesterday dealing with veterans affairs and the opportunity we had to discuss the implementation of something we now refer to as the choice act. One of the successes and, in my…

I appreciate you indicating that because I think the initial response by many Americans when the idea of a military was going in to battle Ebola was that is not what we train military men and women for.

My question, Mr. Secretary, is there something else that will then arise, once this issue is fixed, that then causes the implementation of this bill to be burdensome?

The conferees do not intend the 40-mile eligibility criteria included in this section to preclude veterans who reside closer than 40 miles from a VA facility from accessing care through non-VA providers, particularly if the VA facility the…

My point is, there is a long series of issues that create a circumstance in which a veteran may just shrug their shoulders, throw up their hands, become angry, be done and fed up with the program.

You ought to be able to reach the conclusion that you can use the Choice Act.

I certainly hope the EPA and this administration listens to the vast majority of stakeholders.