I announce that the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Cowan), the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Lautenberg), and the Senator from Massachusetts ( Ms. Warren) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the…

I have every confidence that our law enforcement and intelligence personnel will bring the perpetrators of this horrible crime to justice.

We are committed to providing our soldiers and families a level of benefits and quality of life that is commensurate with their service to the nation.

Therefore, there should not be any mission that couldn't be done in the Reserve or Guard.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate in order to conduct a hearing April 16, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office…

I ask for unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 16, 2013, at 10 a.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING…

last Monday, college basketball fans crowned their newest champion, the Louisville Cardinals. I wish to take a moment to congratulate another historic college hoops team. The NCAA recently announced that the 1963 NCAA Men's Basketball…

The Army National Guard had a 17-percent increase in suicides from 2011 to 2012; the Army Reserve, a 30-percent increase.

The good news in education today is that the investments we've made over the past 4 years are starting to pay off.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 16, 2013, at 10 a.m., in room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Tax Fraud and…

The President's budget demonstrates that we can make absolutely critical investments to strengthen the middle class, create jobs, and grow the economy, while still continuing to cut the deficit in a balanced way.

we are debating one of the most important bills we have had before the Senate in a long time. The reason we are debating this subject is because of what happened in Newtown, CT, on December 14, and the gun violence that takes its toll…

I think that is worth looking into in all the branches to see if there are ways that we can accommodate those who are serving our country in a civilian capacity as well.

Army Reserve soldiers will continue to mobilize, deploy, perform their missions, and then return home to their loved ones.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on April 16, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-226 of the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 16, 2013, at 2:15 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on health…

I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 16, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. subcommittee on antitrust…

I look forward to working with my vice chairman, Senator Cochran, my colleagues on the subcommittee, and the Department to ensure that our military remains strong as we wind down our mission in Afghanistan and tighten defense budgets.

What mix between the Active Force, and the Guard and Reserve Force is right to keep the Nation safe?

The Guard's current combat capability is an economical and critical element of our U.S. national defense.

I absolutely refuse to accept the status quo.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 16, 2013, at 9:45 a.m., to hold an Africa Affairs subcommittee hearing entitled, ``Examining Ongoing Conflict…

Nothing else we currently have in place can meet the intent and provide the payback we receive from the YRRP.

How to cut spending without jeopardizing our national security? How to reduce our expenditures without, in any way, endangering our Nation?

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate, to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Challenge of College Affordability: The Student Lens'' on…