Mr. President, my colleagues have spoken eloquently about the weaknesses of the supposed new Clean Power Plan, which is anything but. I wish to speak a minute about why this is such a detrimental idea for the country but also for my State…

Mr. President, in 2010, Bangor Daily News journalist Christopher Cousins wrote a touching essay on a fishing trip he had taken with his young son to the Maine lake where he and his father had fished throughout his childhood. It was his…

Mr. President, today we remember the life of Christopher ``Chris'' Cousins, who passed away suddenly last week at the age of 42. Chris was a political reporter for the Bangor Daily News and recently named by the Maine Center for Public…

Thank you, Mr. President. It has been 11 years since a Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill has been considered on the Senate floor, so let me begin my remarks this morning by commending the chairman and…

Mr. President, as a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, let me begin my remarks by thanking Chairman Shelby and Ranking Member Durbin, as well as Vice Chairman Leahy, for their leadership on the committee and their advocacy…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that my defense fellow, John-Paul Mantone, be granted floor privileges for the length of the current debate on the appropriations bills that are before us. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it…

Mr. President, as we near completion of the fiscal year 2019 appropriations bill for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, which has been included in the appropriations package before this Chamber, I wish to…

Mr. President, I call up the following amendments and ask unanimous consent that they be reported by number: No. 3464, No. 3522, No. 3524, and No. 3402. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to proceed with a closing statement for up to 3 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I thank the Senator from Oregon for bringing us here today. Mr. President, 53 years ago this week, President Johnson signed the Medicare bill. I believe it to be one of the most important pieces of legislation signed in the last 100 years…

Madam President, I wish to commend the Senator from Indiana for bringing our attention to this important subject. It is important in all of our States. Career technical education is an incredibly important part of helping to grow our…

Mr. President, I commend the Senators who are the authors of this amendment. The Senator from Kansas, Mr. Moran, has discussed this issue with me many times, as have the Senators from New Mexico who feel very strongly about it as well. I…

I ask for the yeas and nays. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant bill clerk called the roll.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be called up and reported by number: Senator Manchin's amendment No. 3553, Senator Paul's amendment No. 3543. I further ask consent that at 5:45 p.m. today, the Senate…

Mr. President, I rise to urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment offered by the Senator from Kentucky. Make no mistake about what this amendment would do. It is an 11.4- percent, across-the-board, indiscriminate, meat-ax cut in…

Mr. President, in 1959, a new summer playhouse opened in Brunswick, ME, with a performance of the popular operetta ``Song of Norway.'' In 2018, the Maine State Music Theater presents its 60th season with professional productions that range…

Mr. President, we are continuing to make progress on this package of appropriations bills. Speaking for the managers on this side of the aisle--the Republican chairman of the subcommittee--I request that our colleagues file amendments at…

As co-chair of the House Cut Flower Caucus, I rise today in recognition of July as American Grown Flower Month. Every year, U.S. consumers spend billions of dollars on cut flowers, but I think most would be surprised to hear that just 20…