I rise today to mark a momentous day and to stand with the millions of Americans for whom the end of don't ask, don't tell means the beginning of a real era of new equality for our Nation. It has been 60 days since Secretary Panetta…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal

I rise today to honor a hero. I rise to remember the sacrifice of a man I am proud to have known. I rise to remember SGT Joe Szczerba of the New Castle County Police who was killed in the line of duty just this past Thursday night…

Although the perpetrators have been caught, we cannot let that be the end of this particular tragic incident, especially in the area of hate crimes.

The idea that folks can be identified as being Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal, based on their identity or their membership in certain civil rights advocacy groups strikes me as ignoring, as I said in my opening statement…

Well, it is my hope that we will take them up and move them forward, and I am grateful for Senator Franken's line of questioning about bullying.

Congress has an important role to play in oversight of all executive branch activities.

In addition to the MOVE Act, last Congress also passed the Matthew Shepard hate crimes law which made two crucial updates to the hate crimes definition.

The first two purposes of our Government are to form a more perfect union and to ensure justice.

I want to hear about and spend some time examining what the Division is doing to make certain that our servicemen and -women... have the ability to vote without burden.

The Civil Rights Division is charged with enforcing our laws, providing the rights of all citizens, regardless of race, creed, religion, sex, or national origin.

I was struck by how active and engaged the Civil Rights Division has been around the 180 servicemembers who were inappropriately foreclosed upon.