I think the Senate has a role in policing this as well, that the whole purpose of advise and consent... doesn't take away our Senate obligation to find out what conflicts of interest you will bring to the position of Administrator.

Are you denying that those private meetings took place?

Not very dedicated, if it takes 740 days. That is still zero.

I am not faulting that. I am talking about private meetings at the time that you were on the executive committee with some of the really, really big polluters with whom you have been very closely politically associated.

Given how many of these groups have important financial interests before the EPA, do you not think that 3,000 e-mails back and forth between you and your office and them are relevant to potential conflict of interest as an administrator?

I have been an Attorney General, too. I know the difference.

We have gone through the cases that you list as your environmental cases.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at the conclusion of the majority whip's remarks, I be recognized. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I thank the Presiding Officer, and I yield to the majority whip. ____________________

Mr. President, in my ``Time to Wake Up'' climate speech--this is No. 154--I sometimes feel as if I am out here banging hopelessly against a tightly locked, barred, and soundproofed door. I make them anyway because, at a minimum, I want…

Mr. President, it makes this industry crazy to be in court and to have to tell the truth, so they will fight desperately on. The $700 billion a year in subsidies makes it profitable to ``lawyer up'' by the boatload for this fight and to…

Mr. President, the senior Senator from West Virginia has a very short time clock and has asked me to yield 2 minutes to him before I begin my remarks. I ask unanimous consent that that take place and that then I be recognized at the…

My pleasure. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island. ____________________

We have actually seen exchange premiums decrease in 2 out of the last 3 years, and that this has saved consumers nearly $220 million since 2012.

You'll be the Secretary of Health and Human Services. You will be doing a lot of work to prepare this legislation...

I'm a fan of and think they do good work at the American Academy of Pediatrics.

I think that it's important--you know well that the reopening of the doughnut hole would be a legislative activity, not an administrative activity.

We throw this thing out at our peril if you care about saving Medicare, the savings to which are a very significant part of this $2.9 trillion.