maybe the minority leader will explain why he is objecting given that we just laid out very cogent, strong reasons that we need to move forward on confirming the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff right now. It is a very dangerous…

I certainly hope my Democratic colleagues can let us move forward on this, or we are going to stay all night until we get the President's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs confirmed. Now, look, I know there was some concern about removing…

My good friend from Mississippi, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, by the way--a Senator who knows probably more about the military than anyone else here--has it exactly right. General Caine has this breadth of experience, not…

my amendment says we are going to strengthen Medicaid and Medicare so that they are available for years to come because these are important programs. They are certainly important programs to the Alaskans I represent. Madam President, this…

Talk about a ruse. This is the worst kind of partisanship, using people's healthcare to fearmonger. We should all want to weed out waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid and Medicare, and we must keep these programs going. The PRESIDING…

I call up my amendment No. 2035 and ask that it be reported by number. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Alaska [Mr. Sullivan] proposes an amendment numbered 2035 to…

We should do both. I ask my colleagues to vote for this amendment. And all my colleagues who voted for this amendment in 2017 should simply vote for it again. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.

like all of us, last week, I was back home in my great State--the great State of Alaska. And, actually, I try to be home every weekend, even when we are in session. But this trip back home was particularly important because I was in…

it is going to be a late night with a lot of votes. I want to take this opportunity to demonstrate our strong Republican support for Medicaid and Medicare right now. My amendment is very simple. It says we are going to strengthen and…

read the amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired.

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll. The result was announced--yeas 51, nays 49, as…

We support Medicare and Medicaid. It is that simple. Vote on Amendment No. 1029 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question now occurs on the adoption of the amendment.

I call up my amendment No. 1029 and ask that it be reported by number. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Alaska [Mr. Sullivan] proposes an amendment numbered 1029. The…

I want to add to what my colleagues have been saying here. It is a big disappointment for us on this side of the aisle that our Democratic colleagues blocked this bill to do what needs to happen with regard to the ICC. Senator Ricketts was…

it is nearing the end of the week, and normally, that is when I come down to the Senate floor to do my weekly--I try to make it weekly--Alaskan of the Week speech. Now, I know for the pages, this is their favorite speech of the week. You…

I ask unanimous consent to be able to speak for 7 minutes prior to this vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I was coming down here to try to pass my bill, the Pay Our Military Act. This bill would have made sure that we are paying our military, including our Coast Guard, in the event of a government shutdown. A few hours ago, this looked like we…

we are on the floor here in the U.S. Senate debating and discussing the National Defense Authorization Act-- the NDAA, as we call it--one of the most important bills of the year because it sets our defense policy, defense spending numbers…

my colleagues have been down on the Senate floor for the last hour talking about the world that the Biden- Harris administration left us in terms of national security, and it is a really important topic. It is a much more dangerous world…

it is Thursday afternoon; and, well, I don't know if our new pages know the significance of Thursday afternoon, but it is usually the time I come down and talk about our Alaskan of the Week. Hopefully, everybody can see that. It is kind of…

I ask unanimous consent that the following fellows in my office be granted floor privileges for the remainder of Congress: Michael Polyak and Akacia Halliday-Isaac. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Cantwell). Without objection, it is so ordered.

While I have worked closely with my colleague from Washington on the Veterans' Affairs Committee in the Senate, I know she is committed to veterans, and I want to work with her on these matters. I will say, though, I would disagree with…

I want to compliment my good friend from Montana, Senator Daines, who was on the floor just now talking about government accountability. That is what I am going to talk about-- government accountability. We need much more of it, and we…

I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to speak for up to 20 minutes and that Senator Paul be permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled rollcall vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…