For the information of all Senators, we expect a voice vote on the Estevez confirmation. The next vote in order will be cloture on the Archuleta nomination. Senators should expect a rollcall vote at noon. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING…

S. 1558 would require the DVA to extend outreach services to veterans via cooperative awareness programs with various Federal and state agencies.

we have to equalize these systems.

Because it cuts the cost of emergency care.

I would love to get your input additionally as we work through this because it is critical especially in rural Alaska.

the greatest thing I have to tell you, Mr. Chairman, is the one in Fairbanks that just opened, the Tanana Chiefs facility, well, I wish when I was growing up as a kid in Alaska I had that kind of dental service.

This bill will just codify that, make sure that is the law, that you cannot pay a per diem to a facility that is not meeting safety standards.

there is still much that needs to be done to educate veterans and their families regarding the benefits and services they have earned in service to the Nation.

if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 11:36 p.m., conditionally adjourned until Thursday, October 17, 2013, at…

I ask unanimous consent that on Wednesday, October 16, Senator Begich be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

the next rollcall vote will be at 5:30 p.m. on Monday October 28. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess subject to the call of the Chair. There being no objection, the Senate, at 11:16 p.m., recessed subject to the call of the Chair and reassembled at 11:34 p.m. when called to order by…

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn and convene for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted on the following dates and times and that following each pro forma session, the Senate…

NIHB encourages the committee to swiftly consider and favorably report S. 1575 to ensure that all AI/ANs are eligible for the benefits intended for them in the ACA.

I come from the small business world. At the young age of 14 I started my first business. I don't hear the business community in my State asking me to crash the economy and keep the government shut down because it has no impact. When we…

For the first 15 to 18 days of debate, the market slowly slid about 800 points. Last week, when there was a sliver of opportunity and people thought maybe we would get the default off the table, that market shot up 300-plus points. The…

I think all of us on the floor agree that we have hope that an arrangement and deal will be made. We want to reopen the government, pay our bills, not go into default, and recognize we still have more work to do because we do need to bring…

If I can interrupt, car loans, credit cards, student loans, any type of credit you want to get to grow your business, expand your educational opportunities--maybe you are doing holiday shopping this year--all that is impacted in a negative…

Is it fair to say that we have been moving this annual deficit down every year? It has been on the right glidepath--down. If we have a change in the T-bill rates, this effort to keep moving the deficit down will quickly reverse because we…

Yes. Not only closed for business. As we know, the FAA also is shut down. There are elements of FAA still operational, but the fact is, in order for visitors to my State--and I am sure to the Senator's State, to Oregon, there is a lot of…

It makes no sense that we would be here. Earlier this week Senator Tester and I were on the floor talking about this issue. When I went home, my 11-year-old son asked: How do you not pay your bills? We can have all the fancy economists we…

If it goes in the wrong direction, it will have a direct impact on the people who are working--meaning fewer people will be working. If there is less business, there is less need to hire people, which means higher unemployment and more…

I wish to enter into a colloquy with several of my colleagues. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

To remind folks who are listening, the gross domestic product is basically the business of the country.

I agree. The last thing I will say this afternoon is--and I will say it as an appropriator--that is what we should do. We need to get past this stop-and-go. We need to sit down and focus on the long term. We need to get the budget…