my goal is to see to it that by the end of March we have an accountability bill for the Veterans Administration employees

I have appreciated the bipartisan approach by both the Chairman and Ranking Member Blumenthal as we move through the different and challenging issues before us.

In South Dakota, we continue to hear that timely provider payment under the Choice Program is a continuing issue.

Madam President, I am pleased to have been one of the conferees to H.R. 644, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. There are many important provisions in this legislation, some of which I helped to draft. There is one…

Madam President, I rise today in strong support of the conference report to accompany the Trade Facilitation and Trade Customs conference report on which we just had a cloture vote. I was very pleased to see 73 U.S. Senators vote in favor…

The reports coming out of there have been unacceptable.

The key components are thinking how we look to the programs of the past, both those that had done poorly and those that had done well.

Mr. President, I rise to voice my opposition to an upcoming cloture vote on the conference report for the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, commonly known as the Customs conference report. This vote is expected tomorrow. While…

the Federal Government has a trust responsibility to provide health care for Native Americans in the United States and Alaska Natives.

I think it is important for the Board to do a thorough cost-benefit analysis before it creates any new red tape.

this was not the intent of the law, to jeopardize them and their opportunities to provide for their families.

Out of the top 11 poorest counties in the nation, I have 5 of them in South Dakota, and they are all my Native American reservations.

But clearly, because they were exempted from the individual mandate, the intent of the law is clear that Native Americans should not face this kind of penalty, especially in areas like I have, in South Dakota, where they are impoverished…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to be allowed to speak as in morning business for up to 10 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Bill

I do not believe we will, by the time IOT&E starts, get anywhere near 80 percent.

I'm there. Thank you.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 9, 2016, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Under the previous order, the President will be immediately…