My colleague who just spoke failed to tell the American people that we're going home tomorrow after we get our morning work done to hug our children, see our spouses, and we're going to be back here Monday. So with that said, several years…

What the American people want from their elected representatives is very much the opposite of what this body has been delivering. Americans didn't want this shutdown, but here we are. They didn't want to lose the health care plans they…

I thank the gentleman. Madam Speaker, the word ``hypocrisy'' has been thrown around a lot tonight. I got to Congress about 3 years ago, and my understanding was if you were Republican, you hated women, infants, children, veterans, and…

First, I want to take this time to thank our Capitol Police Sergeant at Arms staff, local D.C. police that provide for our safety every day. Our prayers go out to those injured and involved in today's terrible incident. Second, Mr…

This morning, one of my colleagues across the aisle said--very accurately--in quoting another elected official, that everything that gets done, gets done in the middle. I happen to believe that the only type of legislation that really…

So the Tea Party has successfully shut down the operations of the Federal Government. And why have they done it? Well, they've done it because they're worried: They're worried about the danger that the Affordable Care Act is going to work…

I am certainly not going to be 3\1/2\ minutes at this point. I had some notes. But that's what I usually do when I get up with notes, go away and I try to speak from the heart. I have been watching this, and it's very frustrating. And…

Right now we have wounded warriors and veterans needing medical care, wondering whether they will receive all the care they're entitled to. These are men and women who have suffered for our Nation to keep us free and safe. It is a shame…

I thank my friends, colleagues, and fellow Americans. Please, listen. I'm not here to defend this government shutdown. Long after we are gone, people are going to remember the rancor of this House, not the good we've done. I don't defend…

Madam President, first of all, I want to commend the words of my colleague from West Virginia about, first of all, the frustration that so many Americans feel that we share and also his words about trying to come to a resolution. I think…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 2, 2013, at 10 a.m. in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 2, 2013. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 2, 2013, at 10 a.m. in room SD-430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building…

A government shutdown--no matter the duration--is a failure on a part of this institution to fulfill its most basic function. The House has voted to fully fund the government and prevent this shutdown. The Senate dragged its feet and…

I'm calling for the government to reopen. I'm calling for leadership on both sides to resolve these issues. The FBI is being impacted. The CIA is being impacted. The National Counterterrorism Center, which is looking at leads that are…

Mr. President, we are here tonight in the Senate, hours away from a deadline which, if action is not taken on the House side, the other body, will lead to a government shutdown. Unfortunately, when I have been asked today by either…

I thank the chairman. Mr. Speaker, we are here today in part to deal with the issue of the compounding pharmacies which allows the FDA to have greater oversight over interstate sales. How we got here is a tragedy. In our Oversight and…

I am very pleased that the House is considering today H.R. 3204, the Drug Quality and Security Act. This legislation would address two important issues affecting the quality and security of America's drug supply. First, the bill would…