I ask unanimous consent that Senator Udall proceed for 6 minutes, that I proceed for 12 minutes, and that Senator Manchin proceed for 12 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered…

I rise to talk a little bit about health care and what it would mean if the Republicans get their way and take away so many benefits for millions of people. But before I do, I would like to respond to Senator Hutchison's remarks on taxes…

This continual neglect is a moral outrage.

The really tragic consequences of that is that we have learned today unequivocally that the worst of the impacts of exposure cannot be reversed.

Lead is bad. And we need to do everything in our power to protect people in this country from it.

What we learned is, A, there is no safe level of lead, and that the impacts fall hardest on our children.

I have to tell you, that is important for every single parent to understand.

There are still 40 percent of Medicaid kids who aren't being tested.

How else do we pay for this? We cut out waste and fraud in Medicare. We say to the health care industry: You make a lot more money and you have to pay a little more, and they will. Then there are the free riders who say, I will never get…

if they suffer a problem with IQ, diminishment, decreased academic performance, attention deficit disorder, and behavioral problems, those things are not reversible.

While we know we can't eliminate every risk, when science tells us that a substance, even at very low levels, can damage children's intellectual development and physical health, we have a clear responsibility to protect them.

The fact is, EPA is carrying out its role to protect the earth, to protect our water, to protect our children, to protect our families.

That is making sure that our kids are in danger.

So there is no safe level, no matter what it is? If there is some lead in the blood, it is not a good thing. Is that right?

I have to say, the press is always here when we are having a battle royale. Not too many press are here.

There is no safe level of lead, that there are terrible problems associated with any level of exposure.

If they want to go back to the days when we had journalism that really helped people, they ought to let everybody know that there is no safe level of lead.

They have a war against the Environmental Protection Agency.

I really appreciate your saying this.

As long as we fail to act, we are willingly sacrificing our children and our country's, many of our children's and our country's future.

VetsFirst, a program of United Spinal Association, wishes to express our support for S. 1806, which would allow individuals to designate tax overpayments as contributions to a fund for homeless veterans.

I move to reconsider the vote and lay that motion upon the table. The motion to lay upon the table was agreed to. Vote Explanation <bullet> Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I am disappointed in the final version of this bill. If I had been…

I wish to discuss the Supreme Court ruling. In a very fascinating ruling, the Chief Justice decided that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. I am not going to spend a lot of time discussing why he said it and why they decided it…

I definitely share the frustration. At this time, I would like to yield 3 minutes of the remainder of my time to Senator Sanders. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Vermont.

Before the Senator from Indiana leaves the floor, I wish for him to know I listened very carefully and I know his concern. I have spoken with Senator Durbin about it, and I hope we can work together. I do want to say this process where…