Mr. President, one of my top priorities as a Senator has been to expand access to affordable health care for all Americans. I have always believed that the key to achieving this goal is to bring down the cost of health care, so more…

Mr. President, pursuant to section 904 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, I move to waive section 305(b) of that act for purposes of the pending amendment, and I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient…

Mr. President, I call this the Protect Workers in Rural America amendment. One of the lesser known provisions of the Affordable Care Act is that it doesn't allow insurance companies to discriminate against people because of their…

My conscience compels me to vote no. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Debate is not allowed during a vote. The Senate will be in order.

Madam President, I rise this afternoon to supplement some remarks I made on the floor last evening about the Affordable Care Act. Last night, I talked about my own experience as a young staff member in the U.S. Senate 43 years ago when…

Mr. President, my colleagues have spoken tonight eloquently about a number of consequences that would follow from the repeal of the Affordable Care Act: increasing drug costs for seniors, a devastating impact on rural hospitals…

Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate Secretary Ray Mabus on his retirement as the 75th Secretary of the Navy. It has been a great pleasure to work with Secretary Mabus during his impressive and storied tenure as the longest serving…

Mr. President, as a young man growing up in Searchlight, Nevada, Harry Reid was an accomplished amateur boxer. During his 30 years of service in this Chamber, Senator Reid has demonstrated time and again the qualities of skill, hard work…

Mr. President, at the end of a Congress, we all know how easy it is for just one Senator to block a bill. I rise today to express my great disappointment that we have been unable to overcome objections from just one Senator from the other…

Mr. President, on January 3, 2013, Senator Mark Kirk climbed the 45 steps to the U.S. Capitol, triumphantly returning to work after a year of intensive recovery from a stroke. To the cheers of colleagues and friends, he called it one of…

Mr. President, Maine and New Hampshire share a border, a history, and an invigorating climate. When Kelly Ayotte came to the Senate 6 years ago, I immediately saw in her those traits shared by the people of our two States: a strong work…

Mr. President, today I would like to join with my colleagues to honor Vice President Joseph R. Biden. Though I did not have the privilege to serve with Vice President Biden while he was a Member of the Senate, I have long admired Joe and…

Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to Senator Barbara Boxer, who has served her State and country with boundless energy, enthusiasm, and exuberance. Senator Boxer's 24 years in the Senate are only part of her legacy of leadership…

Thank you, Mr. President. In 1974, a freshman Senator from Delaware named Joe Biden was identified as one of Time magazine's ``200 Faces for the Future.'' That prescient prediction anticipated the more than four decades of contributions…

Madam President, it is with deep affection, admiration, and appreciation that I rise today to offer my heartfelt congratulations to our colleague and my dear friend, Senator Barbara Mikulski, as her service in the Senate comes to a close…

I thank my friend, Mr. Takano, for yielding. I want to thank Chairman Miller, and thank him on his retirement and his service to our Congress, and also thank Ranking Member Takano and Representative Roe for their work on this bill. I am…

Madam President, as I have listened to the eloquent farewell remarks of my friend and colleague, Senator Dan Coats of Indiana, I could not help but think that he sounded happy, contented, serene, and at peace with the decision he has made…

Mr. President, I rise in strong support of the 21st Century Cures Act, and I commend the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Senator Lamar Alexander and Senator Patty Murray, for…