Now, Senator Vitter opened up the issue of treatment of women. So I am going to take that up, because what is said here reminds me of the days--oh gosh, am I dating myself, of Joe McCarthy.

So do you support having a system running for a period of time without being hooked up? Do you support that recommendation?

A lot of us took our chances when we voted for you, OK? On both sides of the aisle.

I think there is a reason that the public approval of the Congress is 9 percent, and most of that 9 percent probably are our families.

I said many times that there have never been five better qualified people to serve as Commissioners than those who serve today.

Safety must always be our top priority.

This agency is not about partisanship, it is about safety of the highest degree.

I am not going to be holding a hearing like Chairman Issa did to delve into personnel matters and to delve into character assassination of anybody.

I want to say how proud I am of the Environment and Public Works Committee. To be chairman of the committee that has such incredible Senators, such as those you have heard from--Senator Sanders, Senator Whitehouse; we also have Senator…

what is the time remaining in Senator Sanders' block? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 36\1/2\ minutes.

That is a very large number of Senators to have put their names on a letter. These letters are hard. People are busy. They do not have time. You get 30 names on a letter, and we say: Extend these tax cuts for jobs, for the environment, for…

I would yield back to our leader on this important block of time. I would yield my time back to Senator Sanders. We are determined to get this done right for the American people.

Not enough committees are doing, in my opinion, the diligence that should be done, and I am so appreciative of you.

there must be zero tolerance for crimes against kids. Zero tolerance.

Now, our Nation needs to reach a consensus that we never, ever, ever turn a blind eye to a crime against an innocent child.

As a mother, grandmother and Senator from California, I believe there should be zero tolerance for crimes against children.

I wish to express my strong support for the President's nomination of Richard Cordray to be the first Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, CFPB. Mr. Cordray is an exceptionally well-qualified nominee who deserves an…

I wish to express my support for Caitlin Halligan, who has been nominated to the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. Ms. Halligan has an impressive background and broad support, and I urge my colleagues to vote for cloture and allow this…

Senator Levin and Senator McCain, I wish to thank you very much. Before we engage in a colloquy, I simply want to show one chart which tells a story as to why Senator Grassley and I are so pleased the Senators are willing to accept this by…

Is it necessary to lay aside the pending amendment so I may engage in a colloquy? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is no need to do that. Amendment No. 1206

I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.

just in conclusion, did the Senator from Iowa and I have word from the Senator from Michigan that during conference negotiations with the House of Representatives regarding this bill, he will work to ensure that contractor employees are…

That is a good question. We would be well below. We would be about here. Mr. McCAIN. I thank the Senator.

I rise today to pay tribute to 33 servicemembers from California or based in California who have died while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom since July 5, 2011. This brings to 309 the number of servicemembers either from…

I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families during Military Family Month 2011. Each November marks Military Family Month. This is an important time for…