The deployment schedule was so demanding that there was deployment before development.

There was no evidence of voter fraud. None.

Of the 30 deployed GMD interceptors, it has been reported that half include obsolete parts, although an additional 10 have been taken off operational status because of a known design flaw.

How can you say that you're confident that America can be defended if we've never tested our system against an intercontinental ballistic missile?

without preclearance, without Section 5, and only Section 2, it is hunting season for discriminatory voting practices.

I'm trying to reconcile the appetite of Congress to keep spending more money with the actual results of testing.

Do you know the cost of the 14 interceptors the administration is asking for?

we all recognized that, despite real progress in America, unlawful and unfair discrimination in voting remained.

I first thank the Senator for his leadership. He has been the singular force in the Senate to have us reassess the rules of the Senate to make certain they are serving the needs of our Nation. I thank Senator Merkley for his leadership…

I commend to all of those at this hearing an article written this morning by a civilian employee of the Air Force that is printed in the Washington Post, talking about the disappointment that he feels, having dedicated his life first to…

I think it is legal and constitutional. But I think everyone should see whether the companies that they are doing business with are, in fact, using their profits to restrict the right to vote through the American Legislative Exchange…

that is, changing the rules in response to a new perceived threat from minority citizens when really the minority citizens are exercising their rights as Americans, that is a particularly pernicious problem.

the majority leader will be on the floor very briefly, but at this point I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

The discriminatory practices of the 1960s which gave birth to the Voting Rights Act have gotten what I call my three S's: they have gotten extremely sneaky, extremely sophisticated, and extremely smarter.

I announce that the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) and the Senator from New Hampshire (Mrs. Shaheen) are necessarily absent.

I have great respect for the Senator from Tennessee. He is my friend. We have worked together successfully and I hope we will in the future, but I would take exception to his conclusions about the current status of the Senate. I have been…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I cannot imagine a more qualified nominee.

I hope you would encourage more transparency in the FISA Court.

Instead of gathering all of the meta data, phone records of one area code, to focus on the suspects.

I announce that the Senator from Washington (Ms. Cantwell), the Senator from North Dakota (Ms. Heitkamp), and the Senator from Maine (Mr. King) are necessarily absent.

Well, I am going to suggest the absence of a quorum and ask that the time in the quorum call be charged against the opponents' time, up to 23 minutes, so we can have some equalization in terms of use of time on the floor. It is my…

How much time has been consumed by the opponents of the measure? The PRESIDING OFFICER. No time has been consumed by the opponents.

I have noticed on several occasions the affection my friend from Texas has for this poster board that contains this reputed quote from me. I wish to ask the Senator from Texas, since he has used that repeatedly on the floor, is he aware of…

I withdraw my request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The request is withdrawn. The Senator from Missouri.