I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. amendment No. 1268 Under the previous order, there will now be 2 minutes of debate equally divided prior…

148 years ago today Union troops arrived in Galveston, TX, to take possession of the State and enforce the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation. It had been 2 months since General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse and more than…

But technology moves on either with us or with our would-be adversaries.

This committee has been handed the baton on one of the last legs of the race.

I think more competition always results in not only a better price, but better responsiveness.

We have a responsibility to the taxpayers in achieving that goal to make sure we do not waste their money.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 18, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING…

I did not want the acquisition process to be separate from that conversation.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 18, 2013, at 10 a.m., to hold an African Affairs subcommittee hearing entitled, ``Examining Prospects for…

next month Piermaria Oddone will retire as the director of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, IL, after 8 years of service in that position. Pier has led Fermilab through some challenging times, but he has also led the lab…

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics once said, ``You are the stars and the world is watching you. By your presence, you send a message to every village, every city, and every nation. A message of hope. A message of…

I rise to discuss an issue that I hoped I wouldn't need to bring up today but unfortunately I do. I am referring to the continued imprisonment of the former Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko, who has now sat in jail for almost 2…

I rise to speak about the continuing toll of gun violence on our Nation and on my home State of Illinois. This past week we lost too many Americans, and too many Illinoisans, to gunfire. Last Monday, 18-year-old April McDaniel was sitting…

when President Obama was first elected back in 2008, I can recall the transition period because his transition office was literally next door to my office in the Federal building in Chicago. I can't think of a more exciting time. Here was…

The standard that they released yesterday, which they are now going to use, is actually stricter than the standard that I have been proposing.

I have offered an amendment over the years to try to limit the metadata collection in terms of specific suspicion.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 18, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., to hold a Western Hemisphere and Global Narcotics Affairs subcommittee hearing entitled…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 18, 2013, at 10 a.m., in room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``High Prices, Low…

We owe it to the men and women who are fighting to defend this country to give them the very best.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 18, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 18, 2013, at 10 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I would recommend sizing the future purchases of this F-35 plane primarily to the threat environment...

I do not think any program in the Department is too big to fail just as a matter of principle.

How could we have done this better, how could we be further ahead, less cost?

I do have some sympathy for your image of creating a program that is too big to fail...