To me, regulations are also a means by which we help school districts understand how to comply with a law.

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gardner). Without objection, it is so ordered. Gun Violence

as my colleagues know, I come to the floor every week or so to share the stories of those victims who have been lost to the epidemic of gun violence that is plaguing this Nation. The news covers the episodes of mass shootings, such as…

We need to reform and calibrate the formula as people live longer and they are more productive.

I would just recommend to everyone a simple table that talks about the average age of the United States and all of our competitor countries relative to today and 2030.

We are failing in many ways to live up to that promise for America's families.

I do believe that our national debt is a long-term problem that we have to solve.

We are sitting on the smallest Army since World War II, the smallest Navy since World War I, and the oldest and smallest Air Force ever.

the truth is, they are an indispensable part of the U.S. role around the world.

I think every day about the burdens that we are leaving to the next generation, if we do not make smart decisions about both spending and revenue.

Even Secretary Gates, in his last budget, for fiscal year 2016, he proposed a budget that is some $66 billion greater than what we are spending right now.

I just got back from a week in the Middle East, and I can tell you, things are not getting better there.

Count me amongst those who think that this is a very important hearing to have.

The time value of money and the compounding of interest is what all of us have to recognize in this solution.

But generally speaking, I do hear a lack of concern about that, which is somewhat surprising.

the struggles of our middle class and those trying to get into it is an urgent problem--and, I believe, the proper concern of this committee and Congress.

I believe that the strength of our middle class has long been a key aspect of our international appeal.

I would respectfully disagree that the debt is not a crisis. It is a major crisis.

I think South Korea this year will contribute $800 million in defense.

However, we simply have not seen those predictions of higher interest rates pan out.

The savings and significant contribution you can make to the debt is not about grandma and granddad today. It is about my grandchildren and my children.

The middle class is evaporating in the Middle East. It is not just declining. It is evaporating.

I think you can make a fairly serious argument that we have yet to see those predictions come true.

The question is, where are our priorities?

I think there is no doubt that there is a connection in Russia's mind between their policy in Syria and their policy in Ukraine.