every Senator supports expanding access to health care. We may have strong differences on the best way to do it, but no one should doubt that commitment. However, we must also ensure that we protect deeply held religious beliefs of our…

this amendment restores a family's ability to plan ahead for health care costs and afford care. It eliminates a cap on flexible spending accounts. It also eliminates the silly requirement that Americans get a doctor's prescription to…

I rise today to seek support for an amendment to the budget resolution that would discourage aerial surveillance of farms by the Environmental Protection Agency. Last year, we learned that EPA had been conducting aerial flyovers of…

I thank the Senator from South Dakota for a nice introduction. I appreciate the opportunity to speak today on the budget that has been proposed by the majority party. If I might lay a little groundwork, in addition to what the Senator from…

if what is lacking here is that community, the peer support, the group counseling, that force that kind of pulls things together emotionally and mentally, those kinds of things seem to me to be a real pathway forward here in terms of…

They are now a single thread instead of that tightly woven, you know, fabric and unit that they had while they were in.

I found it very interesting that you were saying, you know, a veteran comes home.

I also want to offer a word of thanks to the Senator from Montana for his leadership on S. 534, the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform Act of 2013.

I look forward to working with Senator Tester on this committee. We can get a lot done working together, and let us just go out and do it.

I think it is fitting that Senator Johanns and I begin our tenure as Chair and Ranking Member of this Subcommittee focused on this common sense legislation which we both want to see signed into law.

I cannot imagine--because it would seem to me so common, like in a city like Omaha, because you are right on the border, you are going to have business from other jurisdictions around you.

I do not know that there is anybody in Congress more States' rights oriented than the two people sitting up here today.

If we succeed in reducing administrative and bureaucratic barriers to entry in the interstate insurance marketplace, it logically follows that competition will increase and, hopefully, costs will go down.

This legislation, S. 534, has once again been introduced in this Congress by Subcommittee Chairman Jon Tester and Ranking Member Mike Johanns.

If I could jump over to Baird, what about this legislation do you think has a better chance of working than previous attempts?

And to me, that would be extremely worrisome. This legislation has the best chance of solving a very, very difficult problem, in my opinion.

Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for calling this hearing, first of all, and to our panel of witnesses, thank you for being here today.

Senator Johanns and I introduced legislation last year, the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Act, to create a nonprofit association to provide one-stop licensing for agents and brokers operating outside of their home…

We are especially grateful to you, Mr. Chairman, and Sen. Johanns, for your willingness to lead on this issue.

It would seem to me that the insurance industry would absolutely demand that this would be implemented.

I ask for 3 minutes to speak on the Cruz amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I met with a group of young people today. They have their whole lives in front of them. They are talking and thinking about what they are going to do in terms of going to college and what their careers might be. They asked me about the…

today I rise to speak on behalf of the Cruz amendment. I want to spend a couple of minutes explaining my thoughts behind the amendment and why I am proud to be a cosponsor of this amendment. All across Nebraska I do roundtable meetings…

I do not want to pull rank on anybody, but it seems to me if you really need help with freeing up medical records, let us know and we can also make that request.