I voted in favor of the nomination of Gen. John Kelly to be U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, and I am submitting this statement to explain my vote. This nomination is not a referendum on President Donald Trump's immigration policy. If…

I only want to ask my friend from North Carolina, the chairman of the committee, two questions. Is it traditional for the Senate Intelligence Committee that you chair to report out a nominee like Congressman Pompeo, and have you reported…

there were 2 minutes extended to each side, if I am not mistaken. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator cannot object. There is 2 minutes on both sides.

I listened carefully to the statement by the Republican leader on the floor, and I am hoping we can reach some agreement later today as to the nominations to be considered this day and very quickly next week. I will, for the record, make…

yesterday I went to the White House. It was a great celebration of the World Series champion Chicago Cubs being recognized in the White House by our President from Illinois, Barack Obama. Of course, he is a White Sox fan, and he didn't…

today I want to take a few moments to acknowledge Illinois State Senator--and my friend--John Sullivan. John is one of the best and most decent men in politics--and there is no stronger advocate for the people of western Illinois. After…

let me start by commending my colleagues from Louisiana and Maine. I really believe their approach to the Affordable Care Act is much more reasonable than what we have heard in the past from some. Senator Collins just went through a litany…

I ask unanimous consent that I be recognized for an additional 5 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Thank you, Mr. President. Under this President, Congress passed the most comprehensive overhaul of financial regulations since the Great Depression, protecting consumers and taxpayers. President Obama inherited a Federal budget…

in 8 days, just a short distance from this Senate Chamber, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. On that date, January 20, 2017, the fate of more than 750,000 young American immigrants will hang in the…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Ernst). Without objection, it is so ordered. Russia

apparently a number of our colleagues here are having second thoughts about the strategy on the floor. We have before us a budget resolution. It is setting the stage for a budget process called reconciliation. To put it in layman's terms…

NBC News compiled a document of activity by Russia and Vladimir Putin. It starts in April of 2007 in Estonia, where the Russians were disabling their Internet; in June 2008, in Lithuania, where the Russian hackers were defacing government…

the most popular dictionary defines an act of war as an act of aggression by a country against another with which it is nominally at peace. Let me repeat, an act of aggression by another country against another with which it is nominally…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 47, nays 51, as follows: [Rollcall…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 52, nays 46, as follows: [Rollcall…

How am I recorded? On behalf of the downstate hospitals of Illinois, I vote no. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Debate is not in order during a vote.

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 51, nays 47, as follows: [Rollcall…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 49, nays 49, as follows: [Rollcall…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein) 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 48, nays 50, as follows…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 50, nays 48, as follows: [Rollcall…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 47, nays 51, as follows: [Rollcall…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 49, nays 49, as follows: [Rollcall…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 48, nays 50, as follows: [Rollcall…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Murkowski). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 47, nays 51, as…