Since the Senator is under the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, his monthly premiums for his health insurance and my health insurance receive an employer contribution. That is how most Americans who work get their health…

Let me first thank the senior Senator from Vermont and the President pro tempore of the Senate. I wish to say to the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, it has been my great honor for 15 or 16 years to work with the Senator from…

I wish to thank the majority leader for his statement. We are hoping there will be positive developments today, and very quickly, relative to the impasse which we have reached. It is time to reopen this government, it is time to make…

at 12 o'clock noon we will vote on the motion to proceed to S. 1569. It is barely 1 page, but it is of more significance than anyone can imagine. It basically is an opportunity for us to start the debate--not to end the debate but to start…

I received an email this morning from an old friend. He is the father of a disabled veteran. This veteran is a quadriplegic--a victim of a roadside bomb in Iraq. He has gone through multiple surgeries. At some point most people would have…

I would ask a question through the Chair. I say through the Chair, I think what we did here was the right thing to do, and I am sorry, I am painfully sorry that this government shutdown is hurting so many innocent people. It could come to…

I would make several points. First, I was with an Honor Flight group at the World War II Memorial last week, a great bunch of World War II veterans who came in from Illinois, and it didn't surprise me one bit--there was no barricade…

Let me finish my statement. I reserved the right to object and I have the floor--I stand corrected. The Senator from Kentucky has the floor, but I can stand and speak reserving the right to object to his unanimous consent request. Is that…

I would like to clarify a few points relative to statements made by the junior Senator from Kentucky. The first statement: The Democrats will not negotiate. Well, let me remind the Senator from Kentucky--and I am sure he has not forgotten…

Each morning, the Senate opens with the customary prayer by our Chaplain and the Pledge of Allegiance. This is an opportunity for Members of the Senate to reflect on two important things: first, our mission on Earth not only as elected…

Reserving the right to object, I wish to commend my colleague from Indiana for noting the important role the Federal Government plays when it comes to natural disasters. There is not a Senator on this floor who hasn't seen this Federal…

Let me see if I can clarify. Reserving the right to object, I understand the Senator from Indiana acknowledges that just appropriating money for FEMA does not respond to natural disasters in America. I have offered a continuing resolution…

Reserving the right to object, this is why this approach is so awful. Coming to the floor with 11 requests for 11 agencies, we estimate there are another 79 requests that need to be made for us to fund our government. Grow up, Senate. You…

I thank the Senator from Kentucky because I went through a period of suffering a few moments ago. The point I would like to make to the Senator from Kentucky about the national parks is one I hope he will understand. We want to open the…

Reserving the right to object, holding the floor at the sufferance of the junior Senator from Kentucky, I would like to ask him to respond to a question without yielding the floor.

Will the Senator tell us when was the last time our Federal Government had a surplus in the budget and who was the President at that time?

I object to the modification to reduce the top-line budget number. This was a number negotiated between Speaker Boehner and the majority leader. Speaker Boehner said this was a number he could pass. I believe since we took a $70 billion…

I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the original request of the Senator from Kentucky?

I believe what is pending is the original unanimous consent request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the original unanimous consent request?

For the record, the last time we had a surplus was under a Democratic President, President William Jefferson Clinton, and I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Washington.

It is the figure Republicans placed as part of the negotiations, which the majority leader agreed to. That was a negotiation which led to that number which Speaker Boehner agreed to. Secondly, this argument by the Senator from Kentucky…

reserving the right to object, it was my understanding that the Senator from Kentucky was going to make a request relative to the Veterans' Administration. The request relative to the national parks has been made earlier today. Is the…

I thank the Senator from Washington for her 21st time in coming to the floor of the Senate and asking the Republicans to join us in a conference committee to resolve budget differences between the House and the Senate. Twenty-one times…

since the beginning of this great Nation, 1,948 men and women have served in the U.S. Senate. That service is a singular honor and carries with it an important responsibility. James Madison said the ``use of the Senate is to consist in its…

If the Senator from Texas is asking me a question, I would respond through the Chair that we have given the Senator from Texas ample opportunity to completely fund the government, including all of the veterans who work for the Federal…