the beginning of a new session of Congress provides a good moment to look back at the previous year and take stock of the challenges ahead, and today what I would like to do is just take a few minutes to talk about the national security…

I have been working with Senators Barrasso and Hoeven on the Restoring Accountability in the IHS Act.

It is something that has tremendous potential to deliver benefits to areas of the country for which, in many cases, it is difficult to get delivery of health-care services in a timely and a cost-effective way.

I think we all share your priorities of lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs.

It is unacceptable for us to not be providing high-quality service there.

Any political settlement in Afghanistan must involve negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan Government.

We welcome an effective Chinese role in supporting an Afghan-led peace process.

Thank you Senator Thune for your kind words and your representation for our great state.

I often say that South Dakota punches above its weight in service to the country.

We agree there is not a military solution to the conflict but rather the best avenue to achieve stability is through a negotiated political settlement.

this week Congress sent the President a tax reform bill that will translate into real relief for American families. I have spent a lot of time on the floor of the Senate talking about how this bill will benefit these families in South…

I am kind of beyond words to explain why we are objecting to someone who was unanimously approved out of the committee, is highly qualified, noncontroversial, and would run an incredibly important safety agency in this country. I just…

we have had an immensely qualified leader, Ronald Batory, ready to lead an important safety agency for over 4 months. The time for playing political games with the leadership of this railroad safety agency should be over. It is long past…

I rise to voice my strong support for the nomination of Ronald Batory to be the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration at the Department of Transportation and to express my deep frustration that this noncontroversial, highly…

today I recognize Katie Murray for all of her hard work on behalf of myself, my staff, and the citizens of South Dakota while working in my Rapid City and Sioux Falls, offices. Katie is a joy to work with, and she has been an excellent…

today I recognize Michele Mustain for all of her hard work on behalf of myself, my staff, and the people of South Dakota while working in my Sioux Falls, SD office. We are grateful for the excellent work she has done for other elected…

relief for Americans is on the way. This evening, we will vote on the first comprehensive overhaul of our Tax Code since 1986. In 1986, I was a young Senate staffer. I watched as that tax bill passed on the floor of the U.S. Senate. I was…

for the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the Records on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the…