I have 8 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following…

every week I have been coming down to the floor to talk a little bit about my great State, about the wonders of its natural landscape--a land that everybody should see for themselves--and we talk about special people. I know the Presiding…

today I am gratified to be finally debating and voting on the nomination of Joe Balash to be the U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Lands and Minerals. I have been coming to the floor, as have a lot of my colleagues, making the…

I ask unanimous consent that following the disposition of the Balash nomination, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Executive Calendar No. 167, as under the previous order. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Russia is eating our lunch, and we are doing nothing.

We got people over at the Pentagon who have their head in the sand, and it needs to stop.

I came to the floor a half hour ago talking about a very well-qualified candidate for the Assistant Secretary of Interior for Lands and Minerals, Joe Balash, whom I happen to know very well. He was my former chief of staff, and he is the…

I also want to express appreciation to a number of my colleagues and, again, Senator Portman is certainly one of them. We had an important night the other night with regard to the critical passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. I think it…

I wish to first compliment my colleague from Ohio, Senator Portman, on his leadership on so many different fronts in the U.S. Senate. His leadership is nowhere more important than what he has been doing on the opioid epidemic that is…

I ask unanimous consent that it be in order for Senator Nelson and Senator Baldwin or their designee to each offer a motion to commit, which are at the desk, and that no amendments to the instructions be in order. I further ask consent…

As to the issue on economic growth, I have been coming down to the floor in my relatively short time here and talking about growth, growth, growth, growth. I have not in 3 years--3 years--heard my colleagues on the other side of the aisle…

I want to compliment my good friend from South Carolina who came down here and talked about what this is all about. I couldn't agree with him more. This is about families. This is about American families. He has these poster boards up…

Do you believe that the new normal is 1.5 percent, like CBO, like the Obama administration said--GDP growth of 1.5 percent for the entire future? Is that what you believe?

If confirmed, Mr. Myers would serve as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Department of Commerce.

If you superimpose my state on the Lower 48, you will see Ketchikan, Alaska would be right around where St. Petersburg, Florida is.

I want to thank him again for his desire to serve our country.

I have appreciated Secretary Ross' emphasis on trying to do something about the seafood trade deficit.

I think you have done an outstanding job in this hearing today, and you are very well qualified.

Alaska has 3 percent of the weather capability found in the Lower 48. This is a serious safety concern for my constituents.

I would like your commitment to help to restore the agency's presence as appropriate, when they are working on Alaska issues, to be in Alaska.

Will you commit to helping enhance the weather reporting capabilities in Alaska, if confirmed?

Will you work with this Committee to aggressively reduce the charting backlog and increase the use of public-private partnerships to achieve this goal in terms of upgrading our hydrographic surveying around the country?

To be the most effective and cost effective to the taxpayer, NOAA staff and assets who work solely on Alaska issues must be in Alaska.

I think it's very unconvincing that there are, from your testimony.

I'm looking for a 5 percent increase.