sometimes, when I am asked to describe my politics, I say, ``I believe in the Gospel of Saints Paul''--Paul the Apostle, Paul Douglas, Paul Simon, and Paul Wellstone. Paul the Apostle was, of course, one of the most important figures in…

let me thank my colleague from Connecticut. He sponsored a filibuster on this issue, I believe it was last year. I participated in it, as did many Members of our caucus. Both he and Senator Blumenthal bring a special perspective to this…

I come to the floor today to voice my concern regarding the nomination of Ajit Pai to serve as a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. Many of my colleagues are planning to speak about the threat Mr. Pai poses to a free…

I announce that the Senator from Nevada (Ms. Cortez Masto), the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), and the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Sanders), are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Lankford). Are there any other Senators…

I announce that the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Perdue). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 55, nays 41, as follows…

I announce that the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 95, nays 1, as follows: [Rollcall Vote…

I announce that the Senator from Minnesota (Mr. Franken) and the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Sullivan). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas…

I announce that the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Donnelly) and the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Lee). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was…

I announce that the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Donnelly), the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), and the Senator from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber…

textbook costs are one of the most overlooked barriers to college affordability and access, and they are continuing to get more expensive. Over the last decade, 2006 to 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index shows that…

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S. 1864 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of…

what America wants is to solve problems, not create them. The Graham-Cassidy bill will create problems for every American family. Let's do something right. On a bipartisan basis, let's sit down and work out improvements to our healthcare…

I ask unanimous consent that the statement of A.J. Wilhelmi, president and CEO of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association also be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record…

over the last few days, three Republican Senators have publicly stated that they will vote against the healthcare repeal bill that may come to the Senate this week. In announcing his opposition, one Republican Senator, John McCain of…

Finally, I ask unanimous consent that the statement by the National Association of Medicaid Directors, to which I referred, be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as…

I announce that the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Lankford). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 49, nays 47, as follows…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the Emanuel nomination?

I wish to say that the comments made by the Democratic leader, the Senator from New York, really touched me because they go to the heart of this institution. It was only a few weeks ago, in a dramatic moment, when Senator John McCain…

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S. 1845 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of…

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S. 1837 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of…

I rise in opposition to the nomination of Noel Francisco to be the Solicitor General of the United States. The Solicitor General--often called the ``tenth Justice''--argues on behalf of the United States in the Supreme Court. It is a…

Let me quote a few sentences from this article because I think they make the case dramatically about how bad the Cassidy-Graham substitute would be. Here is what he said: Compared with its predecessors, the bill would increase the ranks of…

I announce that the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cruz). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 50, nays 47, as follows…

I announce that the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Flake). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 49, nays 47, as follows…

what is the business of the Senate this morning? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senate is considering the Francisco nomination.