my state, New Hampshire, is contributing to the Universal Service Fund $25 million per year more than we are receiving back.

I'm a strong advocate for this process to be competitively and technologically neutral.

Senator McCain is absolutely right. It is outrageous that one provision that was a bipartisan provision is holding up the authorization from coming forward when it addresses things such as pay raises for our military. It addresses services…

I am really concerned that Mr. Brennan, again, has not read this legislation because that statement is not correct. As the Senator knows--he worked very hard on a compromise with the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Chairman…

Senator McCain, first of all, is absolutely right. This was an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote in support of the detainee provisions, according to Senator Reid, and that is why they are not being brought forward to the floor. In my view…

Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the state of affairs and where we are in the Senate, particularly with regard to the Defense authorization bill. Right now in the Senate--I am a freshman Member of this body--it has been over 2…

I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy with Senator John McCain. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

Thank you for choosing to take on this new responsibility at such an important time for our country.

It has been over 3 years since the summer of 2008 when the Russian invasion and occupation of Georgia led to perhaps the lowest point in United States-Russian relations since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Mr. President, I rise today to address the majority leader's refusal to bring the Defense authorization bill to the floor. On Monday, the Majority leader came to the floor and acknowledged the importance of bringing the Defense…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for 15 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Defense Authorization

I chair subcommittee on water and power, and we're hoping to do a follow up hearing to look at the impact of fracking on production of shale gas.

I thank my colleague. I agree with both of my colleagues, who have spoken, that we live in a globalized economy, and it is important for us to make sure we have the benefits of that globalized economy in America. It has offered us…

It is in our national security interest, particularly with respect to Iran, that we have a government in Iraq that is independent of Iran.

I think we need a long-term detention policy.

I think it's very important that we not put political considerations ahead of making sure that these individuals don't get back in theater to further harm us.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of PFClass Arick Michael Dobson Tarr, who died at the young age of 20 on July 30, 2011, at Fort Lewis, in Tacoma, WA, where he was stationed. Private First Class Tarr was assigned to…

We had roads and bridges washed out. We had people lose their businesses and their homes.