it is an honor for me to stand and pay tribute to Saxby Chambliss. I think the first time I got to work around Saxby was when I was nominated as the Secretary of Agriculture, and I think the first hearing Saxby chaired as chairman of the…

I am an original cosponsor of this legislation and appreciate your long-standing partnership on this issue. The bill clarifies that, in establishing the minimum leverage capital and risk- based capital standards under section 171, the…

I wish to start by saying I so appreciate the kind words by Senators McCain, Chambliss, and Isakson. I see there are others in the Chamber who may weigh in and offer a thought or two. I can't express how much I appreciate it. I would like…

I appreciate the fact that you have the Agricultural Advisory Committee up and running. Thank you for that.

I ask for the yeas and nays. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Joseph S. Hezir, of Virginia, to…

just a word or two to both leaders. Thank you so much for your kind words. I also want to say thank you for mentioning my wife Stephanie. This has been a remarkable partnership for a lot of years, and I could not have done what I did…

I rise today to honor the service of a dedicated leader in my home State of Nebraska. Governor Dave Heineman has guided our State during the past 10 years with vision and with laser-like focus on efficient government, economic vibrancy…

It is Congress who will create the next housing finance system and that the next housing finance system is not the conservatorship of the FHFA.

Our job is to try to figure out how we deal with that puzzle, that very difficult issue of how to provide services to people who need it.

But to anyone who might be listening in who is wondering if is it time to give up, it is not.

Somehow we have got to figure out a better way, because at the most important time in this person's life, when they are crying out for help, it should be a simple, straight-forward pathway to access that help.

I just hope we are not over-engineering something here.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Could you do that and make it crystal clear to the public that you confirm that the role of conservator... is to be the bridge builder?

I think it would be beneficial.

I will continue to push this legislation, but many of its provisions are things that HUD has the flexibility to implement on its own.

Let us make it right this time. Let us not make it so that the only thing that happens is the narrow band of things that everybody agrees to.

The Inspector General report we are here to discuss today has confirmed disturbing allegations about secret wait lists and barriers to health care for our veterans.

I was here during the days when the Affordable Care Act was being debated, if you could call it that. I was here during the time when the effort of Senate Democrats was simply to keep 60 together so they could pass this bill under any…

I will begin today by acknowledging the good work of the good Senator from Montana. This bill has been around for a long time, and it is our hope that we will get to a point today where we can say that finally we have solved the problems…

I yield back all time and ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Cheryl A. LaFleur…

The accountability and transparency pieces of the legislation are not only important, they are critical.

Personally, I think what you need is competition.

There has to be accountability for wrongdoing or these issues will continue and the Senate will have more hearings, not only next week or the week after, but in 5, 10, 20 years from now.