Chuck Grassley

It has taken extreme positions in religious employment cases, seeking to make school districts accommodate teachers' very disruptive and unreasonable demands.

Congress has consistently recognized the value of whistleblowers in government and private sector.

I was an original co-sponsor of the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, and I've always pushed for strong whistleblower protections for Federal employees.

We have now confirmed 34 nominees this Congress

And, last, if Congress were to give rulemaking authority to modify the definition in the future, what agency or combination of agencies would you suggest be given that authority?

Well, if banks send their customers breach notification that involves nothing more than their name address, or their mother's maiden name, do you agree that this broad definition of 'sensitive personally identifiable information' could…

I believe that we must take cyber attacks seriously and ensure that our critical systems' infrastructure is well protected from cyber criminals.

I think the fact that Majority Leader Harry Reid had a meeting several months ago on various committees that were involved in this...

We are scheduled to mark up a Senate bill that does not currently include a crime for aggravated damages to a critical infrastructure computer.

As such, our criminal laws should reflect the need to protect critical infrastructure by sending a signal to would-be criminals that these attacks, including even attempted attacks, will not be tolerated.

I don't intend to use but 1 minute because I spoke yesterday on this nomination, but I would urge my colleagues to support the nomination of Paul A. Engelmayer to be district judge. He is very well qualified, and I would encourage a…

An unpassed bill has no legal authority.

Mr. Chairman, I think I will yield back my time because I have got to go, and thank you for your courtesies.

As we were visiting before the meeting started, I said I was skeptical, and my questions will probably reflect that skepticism.

I appreciate the fine work of the men and women of the State Department who provide consular assistance to arrested citizens.

The United States fulfills its treaty obligations under the Vienna Convention, and we do protect Americans abroad.

Secretary Clinton called me last night, and we had a very good discussion, and she told me about 9,500 Americans being helped abroad on this.

A bill that has not passed is not the law under the Constitution, and only Congress can enact such legislation.

Congress has the sole power to legislate.

Why is it so much to ask for your company and others to look for American workers first and foremost?

I will continue to push for more reforms in our immigration system to ensure Americans are the No. 1 priority.

The attention that Senator Durbin, I, and others have put on the H-1B program has had an impact already without the legislation passing.

Our bill would also require companies to attest that they have tried to hire an American worker before they hire a foreign worker.

However, it is clear they are not working as intended, and the programs are having a detrimental effect on American workers.

For years, our country has struggled to find a way forward on immigration reform.