If there is a difference with this administration, it is not different from previous administrations only in the sense that the President has said, when he was first sworn into office, that this was going to be the most transparent…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Vermont.

I ask to speak for 15 minutes on this nomination that is before the Senate. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I rise in opposition to the nomination of Caitlin Halligan, the President's nominee for the United States Circuit Court for the District of Columbia. I wish to take a few minutes to explain to my colleagues why we should not change our…

today I am reintroducing the Small Business Efficiency Act with my colleagues Senators Nelson, Portman, and Pryor. Many small businesses rely on Professional Employer Organization, PEOs, and to handle many of their human resources…

back in 2003, the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, issued a report that revealed that suspected terrorists could stay in the country after their visas had been revoked on grounds of terrorism because of…

today I am reintroducing the Small Business Efficiency Act with my colleagues Senators Nelson, Portman, and Pryor. Many small businesses rely on Professional Employer Organization, PEOs, and to handle many of their human resources…

I am concerned that we have a mentality of 'too big to jail' in the financial sector.

I want you to know that I am extremely disappointed. I voted for you based on the fact that--giving you the benefit of the doubt and disregarding previous controversies.

Do you believe that Congress has the constitutional authority to pass a law prohibiting the President's ability to use drone aircraft to use lethal force against American citizens on U.S. soil?

If you constitutionally can jail a CEO of a major corporation, you are going to send a pretty wide signal to stop a lot of activity that people think they can get away with.

This letter is extremely concerning, not just in its content but coupled with the classified memoranda that have been shared with just a few Members of Congress.

today I am reintroducing the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act, a bipartisan bill which permits judges at all federal court levels to open their courtrooms to television cameras and radio broadcasts. Openness in our courts improves the…

the last 2 days in the debate here, a lot has been said about the sequestration that presumably is going to happen tomorrow. I would like to speak on that subject because it is very important, particularly the history of sequestration and…

I ask unanimous consent to speak for 15 minutes as if in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I have grown to have serious concerns about Medicare's fee-for-service payment system.

the problem we face with Mr. Lew's nomination is that the Senate does not have answers to very basic and factual questions about Mr. Lew. How can we make an informed decision on his nomination if we don't have answers to basic questions…

Why are we splitting up these two groups? These are two groups of similarly situated individuals.

Yes. So there is not any defense of Medicare fee-for-service anymore. We are working away from it, so there is no defense for it.

I rise to speak on the nomination of Jack Lew to be the Secretary of the Treasury. Am I in order to do that? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator may proceed.

Will you prosecute individuals who use marijuana in Colorado and possess firearms and ammunition as a violation of Section 922? Why or why not?

I intend to object to proceeding to the nomination of Christopher Meade to be General Counsel to the Treasury Department for the following reason: At his confirmation hearing, I asked Mr. Meade for the Treasury Department's legal basis for…

When something has been tried and found not to work, we should try different approaches rather than re-enacting that which has not done the job.

I respect Senator Feinstein's views on this issue. I know that your views are very sincere, and the interest that you have in banning assault weapons is a very consistent position you have taken over the last 20 years.

We do not want anything like this to happen again. We are determined to take effective constitutional action to prevent future catastrophes.