I rise to pay tribute to the life and service of SGT Michael E. Ristau, a native of Cascade, IA. He was killed on July 13, 2012 in Qalat, Zabul Province, Afghanistan while serving his country as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. He…

when my colleagues come over to vote, I hope they will take note of a constituent of mine and wish him well. Taylor Morris, a Navy wounded person from Afghanistan, who is an explosives expert, lost parts of four limbs. He is at the bottom…

it was a very sad weekend and will be for a long period of time in Aurora, CO. I heard the remarks of the majority and minority leaders today expressing condolence for the victims and their families. I wish to associate myself with those…

for my 1 minute I will respond simply to that by saying that I am talking about the institution of the Senate and not one single Senator personally.

In your view, is there more interest for the office to be a friend of the schools rather than a regulator?

I am pleased that Chairman Leahy and I were able to help with the effort to look at the issue of water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. In particular, in June, we sent a letter to the Department of…

I expect answers to this serious matter to ensure that the problems Dr. Whitehurst uncovered are not continuing to this day.

I come to the floor to address my colleagues about a Federal agency that has forgotten that this Federal agency is supposed to be working for the American people. This is an agency that has gotten too big for its britches. Some of the…

last September, President Obama responded to amnesty proponents, denying that he had authority to unilaterally grant special status to individuals who may be eligible under the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act has been around the Senate for…

Dr. Whitehurst has made a number of very serious challenges that call into question the scientific integrity of the FBI crime lab and the thousands of prosecutions that rely on evidence it has processed.

That process is, unfortunately, broken and needs legislative correction.

I am not going to go back through what I said in my opening statement about my work with Dr. Whitehurst, but that experience makes me skeptical about entrusting scientific standard setting to a Government bureaucracy.

I would ask Stephanie and Jill and Scott, as you have considered that legislation, would you suggest any specific changes?

I thank you for your consideration.

Senator Grassley, for inviting me.

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. FDA Investigation

I rise today to introduce important regulatory reform legislation. Recently, when describing the state of our economy, President Obama said that the private sector was ``doing fine.'' I disagree. I think that the American people disagree…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Tax Rates

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Transparency in Government

President Obama and his administration claim to be open and above board in their actions. As recently as July 1, the White House Chief of Staff, Jack Lew, told a television audience: This administration has been the most transparent…

I come to the floor at this point to counteract and add substance to something the majority leader said today in regard to taxes. Recently, the Congressional Budget Office released an update to its report on average effective tax rates…

today I lift my hold on H.R. 3012, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. This bill would eliminate the per-country numerical limitations for employment based immigrants and change the per-country numerical limitations for…

I didn't come to the floor to speak about the wind energy tax credit, but I wish to say to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that I agree with them, and they probably know I agree with them because I am the author of the wind…

I have come to the floor to speak about the issue of taxes--that is now a big issue--not about the issue the majority will set before the Senate to talk about today and tomorrow and however long it takes but the issue we heard about from…

today I wish to pay tribute to SGT James Skalberg, Jr., who made the ultimate sacrifice on June 27, in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. James was driving his vehicle when an improvised explosive device detonated, injuring him fatally. My…