allow me to take a moment of the Senate's time to say thank you and farewell to an exceptional person. Ed Greelegs was my chief of staff for 17 years, and he was a wise and trusted friend. I was not unique in that regard. Ed had thousands…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Remembering Ed Greelegs

I rise to speak on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. It is important to reflect for a moment on how we have reached this moment. It has been more than a year since the untimely passing of Justice…

Before the men and women of the Armed Forces can fight for this country, they must be fit to deploy.

DOD (Department of Defense) health readiness is a critical part of our overall readiness.

Mr. Chairman, this committee, with appropriations language, could eliminate the discount that was being given to the purchase of tobacco in the military, an incentive for more people to use tobacco.

The most valuable resource in our military is the men and women who serve.

The Air Force Surgeon General who preceded you, Travis, in 2015, issued a report that the cost of tobacco to the military is $4.5 billion or more each year in preventable healthcare costs, not to mention the fact that many of these airmen…

DOD medical research is one of my top priorities.

Clearly, the environment that they were brought into was one that gave them an opportunity, perhaps encouragement, to smoke.

So, the next question is what are we doing about it?

Let us not lose sight of the soft power resources that are also critically important.

Do you quarrel with the premise that nicotine is addictive?

We have increased research funding over 32 percent over the last 4 years.

Further curbing the use of tobacco in the military is a prime way to accomplish these goals.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate, notwithstanding the previous order, move to the rollcall vote now. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the Friedman…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. National Institutes of Health Budget and Pharmaceutical Prices

last Thursday was a sunny, cold day in Chicago, but I looked forward to it because there was an event that I wouldn't miss. We have a hospital there known as the Rehab Institute of Chicago. It is one of my favorites, and we have some great…

This is not the first President who has tried it, but when it comes to a hiring freeze in the Department of Defense at the same time we are being told to give $30 billion more because we need more resources to get ready to protect America…

Under the Budget Control Act, if we give you--let's put OCO over here--if we give you $25 billion more in the Department of Defense, the Budget Control Act will require the Department of Defense do a 5 percent across the board cut.

They need to waive the Budget Control Act, if they truly want to provide more money to the Department of Defense for the safety and security of the United States.

It is not surprising we find our Armed Forces are currently under strain, but the evidence is mounting that it is not necessarily a decade and a half of war that is straining our military, but instead, a self-inflicted congressional wound…

Sequestration cuts in 2013 eliminated $35 billion from the Department of Defense's base budget virtually overnight.

Our Nation has been at war for nearly 16 years, and the toll of these conflicts can be measured in many ways.

The pillars of our democracy and our Constitution are at risk.