I hope that by reforming our rules, we can restore some of the collegiality and bipartisanship that our Founders intended for the Senate.

What is truly wrong with our rules is that they have become entrenched against change, something our Founders never intended.

To me, today's hearing is not about examining the current use of the filibuster, but the abuse of the filibuster.

Over the past few months, during this series of hearings, we have discussed and debated example after example of how the filibuster in particular and the Senate's incapacitating rules in general too often stand in the way of achieving real…

I think it is important that you actually have debate and that there is a real chance for the minority to make its point.

If I could wave my magic wand and do one thing, it would be to move the Senate to a schedule which was five days a week, three weeks on and one week off, with no fund-raising during those 15 days a month.

I believe the Constitution provides a solution to this problem.

I do not see that the leverage of another filibuster, which is still going to require 60 votes when you get to the Bill itself, is a necessary commodity.

What does a filibuster really accomplish other than delay and, in some cases, defeat of a nomination?

I worry about the Senate as an institution, but then I worry, if the Senate is not working as an institution, then we are not doing the things the American people sent us here to do.

this bill would benefit Colorado by utilizing the streamlined national environmental policy provisions within the Healthy Forests Restoration Act for treatment projects in emergency areas.

S. 2830 is an important bill that I have introduced and that Senator Udall is co-sponsoring with me.

I support it. It is a bill that would ensure States could use abandoned mine land payments for both coal and non-coal reclamation.

I am disappointed that the Interior Department currently limits these funds to coal reclamation.

Beginning to untangle fire suppression costs from the rest of the USFS budget is a critical step to let USFS focus resources on forest health.

I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this important bill.

Your leadership is critical to the preservation of this First Colony site.

this bill would not diminish or affect the right of private property owners.