I think the element of Indian country is so important and I also think why it is so important, again, in VAWA, that we have transitional housing and enough transitional housing when there is domestic violence so that a mother can take her…

Madam President, today I would like to add a little context to the discussion of the fiscal cliff our Nation approaches, a reference to the combination of the largest tax increase in history, new taxes under ObamaCare, sequestration, and…

The Federal Government estimates that there are more than 750,000 instances of child abuse each year.

This is a complex issue and people need that training to come in at the beginning and address it and to prevent-- hopefully, to prevent more Jonathans.

I think that we have to remember how much we do pay down the line for this, and it is penny wise and pound foolish not to be funding these programs.

Madam President, as a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, I rise for a brief speech. But I want to begin that speech by thanking Chairman Harkin, Ranking Member Enzi, and the entire staff of the HELP Committee…

We have been very open about saying that this is a system that needs significant improvements.

Mr. President, I think I can say I was blessed to be here right before the tribute to Katie that our colleagues from Iowa gave. What an inspiring life of a young lady. Although cut short, her impact is felt by many. VISN Reorganization Act…

Mr. President, I come to the floor today during National Small Business Week to discuss a strong, widely-supported bill that I filed today with the help of Senators Lieberman, Kerry, and Harkin. Over the past several months, as Chair of…

I would ask, would you share with us the data that shows us that 60-day average for payment?

For God's sakes, let us do it. Tell us what we can do to be partners to change this in a way that it works.

We are all in agreement that we are just south of 400 days in the cycle of an applicant being processed.

Is it time for us to start over again, to take a blank sheet of paper and say, How do we design this in a way for the benefits of the servicemembers?

that's a long time for servicemembers to be held in limbo--not knowing whether their military careers are over.

But the reality is that we have got a broken system, and we are 5 years into it.

the number of servicemembers going through this process who have taken their own lives, succumb to drugs, or suffered other unfortunate outcomes.

it's still taking nearly 400 days for injured and ill servicemembers to transition to civilian life.

The day after they----