I ask unanimous consent I may speak on the Senate floor as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Senate Rules Changes

there are certainly so many serious issues that we face in this country, and so many tragedies have occurred. I was on the floor earlier this week paying tribute to the lost lives in Connecticut and the two police officers killed in the…

the Senate, of which I am a new Member, was at one time called the world's greatest deliberative body. Its rules have remained largely unchanged since the origin of the Senate. This Chamber's distinguishing attribute has undoubtedly been…

I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Tribute to Roger Barta

Growing up on a Kansas dairy farm, I know the estate tax is a threat to family farms. This tax makes bailing hay and shoveling manure sound like a get-rich-quick scheme, when most family farms make an average of $45,000 a year. Raising the…

I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding, and would like to commend Chairman Johnson and Congressman Doggett for their leadership on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, today there are nearly 50 million Medicare beneficiaries who are told…

I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Tribute to Topeka Police Officers

we all know it has been a difficult and tragic couple of days for America. We were so deeply saddened to hear the news from Newtown, CT, on Friday. As a parent, nothing in life is more important than the protection of our children. The…

Today, I rise to talk about a bird, the Lesser Prairie Chicken. Actually, it's not about the bird; it's about jobs. I happen to represent Cassoday, Kansas, the American capital of the Lesser Prairie Chicken. The Environmental Protection…

in communities across our country, millions of Americans, unfortunately, find themselves placed in danger by the very people who are supposed to love, care, and protect them. Domestic violence brings hopelessness, depression, and fear into…

I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. VAWA Reauthorization

Today I rise in support of the 1,300 citizens of Buhler, Kansas--and indeed all Kansans--and in fact all Americans who value religious freedom and religious liberty. The citizens of Buhler are under assault. They are the latest victims of…

The consequences of jumping off this so- called ``fiscal cliff'' are serious but avoidable if the sacrifice is shared. My concern is that the domestic discretionary accounts don't seem to have a seat at the negotiating table. If you don't…

even in this dysfunctional Senate, we as Members, we as Senators have a unique opportunity to be advocates for those who need our help, and we need to provide a voice for those who are in need. For years--a decade, really--I have been an…

I ask unanimous consent the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

We are actively engaged in an attempt to recognize the role that entrepreneurs and start-up companies play in our economy.

I regret that my time in the Senate with you overlapped only two years.

Thank you for being a role model for how the Senate can and should operate.