last week, the Senate Finance Committee and the entire Senate lost a dedicated public servant--and, by the way, an all-around wonderful man--with the unexpected passing of Chris Allen. Chris had been a member of the Finance Committee tax…

before I start my remarks, I think it is important for all Senators to know that when there were negotiations going on between the White House and the Democrats in the House of Representatives, one of the real sticking points was…

when President Obama signed the Iran deal, we were led to believe that this rapprochement with the Iranian regime would induce Iran to moderate its aggressive foreign policy and that Iran would likely spend the money made available through…

as President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, I want to recognize democracy working in Taiwan. On Saturday, the 23 million proud people of Taiwan exercised their democratic right to select their own leaders. I congratulate President Tsai on…

over the past year, the Iranian regime has been increasingly aggressive, attacking oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, shooting down a U.S. drone, seizing a British tanker, attacking a Saudi oil facility, attacking U.S. military bases in…

there is a story that we often hear about in high school and government classes where George Washington is said to have told Jefferson that the Senate was created to ``cool'' House legislation as a saucer is used to cool hot tea. Whether…

I want to wish all Iowans and maybe, in turn, all Americans a happy New Year. As 2020 begins, I am focused on passing the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. I am leading a meeting of the Finance Committee tomorrow to report out…

I ask permission to address the Senate for 1 minute. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I can assure the Senator that it was never Congress's intent for gasoline to qualify for this tax credit. I was chairman of the Senate Finance Committee when the alternative fuel mixture credit was enacted in 2005 as part of a surface…

I do agree. The IRS got the law correct when it issued Revenue Ruling 2018-2, and our clarification makes clear that it is our intent for the IRS interpretation of the law to be controlling for all claims. This is the basis of the ``no…

in October the Senate Judiciary Committee marked up and passed S. 2132, the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act of 2019. I am happy to say that after further good faith negotiations among key stakeholders within and…

I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy with Finance Committee Ranking Member Wyden to discuss a tax provision included in the spending package currently before the Senate. The tax title in this bill contains an important…

I am delighted that we last week reached a compromise enabling Congress to send another 5-year reauthorization of the Debbie Smith Act to the President's desk this week. Both Chambers' adoption of that compromise, which passed the Senate…

I am here today to commemorate and celebrate the 1-year anniversary of a groundbreaking achievement. On December 18, 2018, the Senate passed the FIRST STEP Act. Three days later, President Trump signed this far-reaching legislation into…

Senator Wyden and I received a letter from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Their letter endorsed our bipartisan Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act, which tries to respond to what we are hearing from our…

this week marks the second anniversary of the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act--December 2017--when the biggest tax cut in the history of the country was passed by the Congress. It has been very successful. The reason I come to honor…

I have long maintained that rape victims shouldn't have to wait years for justice, and that is why I supported the original version of the Debbie Smith Act when the Senate Judiciary Committee originated it more than 15 years ago. I am…

I recently heard from an 81-year-old Iowan who is battling cancer. She told me that one test cost more than $12,700. That is almost an entire year's income for that lady. On top of that, her medication is more than $4,700 a month. She is…

I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate for 1 minute as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act

I ask unanimous consent that the vote that was going to start at 11:45 a.m. start now. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the Skipwith nomination?

last week, despite the objections of the United States, the World Bank adopted a plan for lending more than $1 billion annually to China. China is the world's second largest economy, and its per capita income is well above the level at…

I come to the floor today to pay tribute to an extraordinary Iowan with whom I shared a decades-long friendship--a very prominent Democrat from my State. Over this past weekend, former Iowa Congressman Berkley Bedell passed away at the age…

I have one very short remark that I want to make and then longer remarks to my colleagues.

I and my friend Senator Wyden released an updated version of our bipartisan Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act. This bill will now deliver even more savings for seniors and Americans with disabilities. When I say ``more,'' it will be…

I ask unanimous consent that Angel Ventling, a State Department fellow in my office, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of the day. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________