I know the Declaration of Independence is not the law of the land, but it does express the philosophy of why we went to war.

So based on Baker v. Nelson, using your words, it's not really settled law, even though a one-sentence statement as precedent, it says 'the appeal is dismissed for want of a substantial Federal question.'

We have watched as the President and Congress have purchased ownership shares in banks, nationalized car companies, seized control of the student loan industry.

This empathy standard has been soundly rejected because it endorses the application of personal politics and preferences.

Americans know that our exceptional Constitution was written to ensure that our Federal Government is one of limited separated powers.

The Constitution tasks our Senate with conducting a comprehensive review of the nominee's record and qualifications.

It's always been widely understood that the Second Amendment, like the First and Fourth Amendments, codified a preexisting right.

I am committed to ensuring that this process is fair and respectful but also thorough.

I have been an advocate for this Pigford African American settlement.

I wish to address my colleagues for a few minutes about the pending legislation that was recently introduced by my chairman and friend, Senator Baucus of Montana. This bill is targeted at creating jobs by providing targeted relief to our…

It is not your problem that it is complex. That is what we have done here.

I was surprised to see the Senate majority leader on Friday morning, in some of the harshest possible language, make the misleading assertion that Senate Republicans oppose the underlying policy in the tax extenders bill. His statement…

I address my colleagues for the purpose of submitting a resolution that will bring about greater transparency in government. I think my colleagues know I have a long history in promoting this sort of transparency. I believe the more people…

I think it is very, very important that we have this oversight hearing, because the situation is as serious as Senator Whitehouse has just stated.

As the majority continues to struggle in an attempt to pass another massive deficit spending bill through Congress, biodiesel plants in Iowa and throughout the country continue to lay off workers because the Democratically controlled…

I thank the Chair. Mr. President, this morning we saw yet another replay of a dialog between some of my friends on the other side and some on my side of the aisle. It kind of goes like this. Republicans make a proposal to make a pending…

I support improved coordination between U.S. Government agencies to go after bad actors and strengthen enforcement of our intellectual property laws.

I would like to pay tribute to SPC Christopher W. Opat, an Iowan who gave his life in service to his country as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was from Lime Springs, IA, and graduated from Crestwood High School in 1999. Christopher…

The expiring tax relief I am talking about today includes the marginal rate cuts and family tax relief. Under the statutory pay as you go, the amount permitted in this area is about $1.4 trillion as you can see at the top of the chart on…

Senator Thune's amendment took the exact opposite approach to the Democratic leadership's substitute. It cuts taxes by $26 billion by extending current law. It cut spending by over $100 billion, and reduced the deficit by $68 billion…

I want to speak in favor of Senator Coburn's amendment that would repeal a special deal for California. As I have said before, Medicare's payment system for physicians is flawed in many ways. One of those flaws has resulted in unfairly low…

Most of my colleagues know this about me--for as many years as I have been a representative of the people of Iowa, I have never believed that death--a person dying--should be a taxable event. Taxing people's assets upon their death is…

in addition, they have facilities in six other States also contributing to those States' rural economies, such as Defiance, OH, Jonesboro, AR, Arcola, IL, Aurora, NE, and Watertown, SD--places where good jobs and hard work that is not…

I opposed the amendment of my friend from Vermont. Although I understand his frustration and his intentions, I could not agree with the effects of the amendment. Over the years, as chairman and ranking member of the Finance Committee, I…

I have always been of the opinion that the Senate needs to conduct a comprehensive and careful review of Supreme Court nominees. It is important that the nominee be given a fair, respectful, and also deliberative process. This is a…