before I go to that subject, I just heard Senator Schumer speak about the bill before the Senate, the criminal justice reform bill, but he has left the floor now. I thank him for his kind remarks and his backing of that bill--a very…

because it has been announced that we have gone to the bill, it makes it necessary for me to ask to speak for a few minutes, as in morning business, on a subject that is unrelated to the bill before us. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

before we go to the amendments, I want to give a general overview of what it took to get to the point at which we are now. The first thing we had to do was show the leader we could produce 60 or more votes for this bill. This is a big…

before I speak, I think we need to give the Senator from Arkansas another 2 minutes because he was speaking on the wrong amendment that is before the Senate.

before I take my 2 minutes in opposition to this amendment, for the leader I ask unanimous consent that the votes following the first vote in this series be 10 minutes in length. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without…

I have asked to be notified before any unanimous consent agreement to process this bill because I oppose S. 281, the Fairness in High-Skilled Immigrants Act. High-skilled immigrants are a benefit to the United States. We welcome those…

No, I can't do that. Let's see if we can keep our bipartisan coalition together to pass a bill that the President said he is ready to sign. That is what he said at the end of his news conference. It is pretty important to understand, this…

OK. Vote against the amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to division No. II of amendment No. 4109.

As we talked about the earlier amendment, we talked a great deal on the previous amendment about victim's notification. There is also a victim's notification in this amendment as well. So I don't want to go into--the arguments are the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Alexander amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the…

if I had 2 minutes the last time, I should have had more than 2 seconds left over.

Will you vote against the amendment, please? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to division III.

The Senator from Louisiana is ready to object to what I am doing. I am going to ask unanimous consent, but before anybody objects, I would like to make, maybe, a 1-minute statement on the reason for my unanimous consent request. I ask…

Reserving the right to object, I would like to explain my--make a point before I object. This amendment is inconsistent with current Federal law and would allow States the right to break existing law. If there is an attempt to legalize…

I rise in opposition to this amendment. This amendment is unnecessary. This amendment is duplicative of requirements already enacted into law under the Crime Victims' Rights Act. Current law requires notification to crime victims who…

We are here today to begin debate on a piece of legislation called the FIRST STEP Act of 2018. This happens to be the most significant criminal justice reform bill in a generation. Our country is based upon the rule of law. If someone…

before I start my remarks, in case they go beyond the time for a vote, I ask unanimous consent to finish my remarks. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

as the 115th Congress winds down, I would like to reflect on the enactment of the historic tax legislation, which passed last year, and what is ahead for us in the new year. In December of 2017, Congress passed, and the President signed…

I have 8 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following…

when we set out to update and reform our criminal justice system, we sought the expertise from a broad range of stakeholders and advocates. Our focus has always been to reduce crime and recidivism and improve fairness in a way that…

I thank my colleague from Oklahoma. H.R. 2 Mr. President, I want to thank Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow for their hard work in putting together the 2018 farm bill. It was a long and difficult…

during this season of Advent, millions of Americans join Christians around the world to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ. A central tenet of Christianity is born in the belief that Jesus is the Light of the World. On December 25, we…

today I raise an important issue for my colleagues that impacts many families in Iowa but also throughout the country. You hear it everywhere. It is about high prescription drug costs. I am not going to address that issue across the board…

millions of Americans woke up this morning and started the day with their doses of prescription medications. Their daily regimens are prescribed by their healthcare providers to treat illnesses and to improve the quality of their lives…

I am here to give thanks. Just a few days ago our country celebrated a national day of Thanksgiving. We celebrated food, fellowship, and freedom with family and friends. By any measure we are a people endowed with an abundance of…