If we don't move forward now in a thoughtful way to protect our children, then we, as adults, as parents, as leaders, have broken a trust with children to nurture them and keep them safe from harm.

I have always said if we are going to have some kind of counseling or interaction, engagement that you need to have that one on one.

Do you know when Congress can expect to receive the cost model that I referred to from the Department?

I believe the National Guard must be maintained as an operational force.

The Reserve, constituted by Citizen Airmen, have a unique capability to 'carry-over' their civilian skill set into their Reserve position.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 16, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The Committee…

I would ask for unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 16, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the…

If we refuse to act now, if we refuse to show courage and collective will in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre, I think we will never act.

I ask unanimous consent that the committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 16, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on commerce, science…

I would just urge all of you to look inside your hearts and vote to make it harder for a criminal to have access to a gun.

I announce that the Senator from North Dakota (Ms. Heitkamp), the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Lautenberg), and the Senator from Massachusetts (Ms. Warren), are necessarily absent.

The United States has to be a force for building a comprehensive peace process and not allowing these kind of side, back room deals.

I was one of the authors with several colleagues on Dodd-Frank calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission to set up a mechanism whereby we could trace the conflict minerals and to encourage American companies to do the same to…

I would like to ask if the Senator would yield for a further question through the Chair. One of the issues the Senator just raised is one I would like to have him expound on; that is, the issue of mental illness and mental health. I think…

I announce that the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Lautenberg) is necessarily absent. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 68, nays 31, as follows…

the last point I would like to make is that included in the bill that came before us is not only an opportunity to change some of the circumstances that might have saved lives in Newtown but also to address some underlying issues of gun…

I rise to discuss the Increasing American Jobs through Greater Exports to Africa Act of 2013. I am introducing this bill along with my partners from the last Congress. Senator Chris Coons from the State of Delaware is in the Chamber, the…

Arlington Heights, IL, is known as the City of Good Neighbors--and if you ask people there who best embodies that spirit, there's a pretty good chance they'll answer: Mayor Arlene Mulder. After 20 years as mayor and more than three decades…

before I make a statement relative to an unrelated issue, I just want to say a very quick word about the historic vote that took place a few minutes ago on the floor of the Senate. I believe we had 16 Republicans who joined us in an effort…

I wish to commend the Senator from Connecticut, Mr. Murphy, as well as Senator Blumenthal. In the last 2 days they have come to the floor many times leading the floor debate and discussion on the pending legislation we will vote on soon…

I wish to thank my colleague, Senator Murphy, who gave his first speech on the floor of the Senate this morning on the same topic. He is eminently qualified to speak to this issue because of his unhappy circumstance of being a…

in an interview with Roll Call newspaper a while back, Robert Remini--one of the great historians of our time-- talked about what he hoped for after he died. Professor Remini said his idea of Heaven would be listening with his own ears to…

I announce that the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Lautenberg) and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Rockefeller) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was…

This letter, dated November 3, 2011, describes a number of longstanding prohibitions in Federal law. Let me quote the letter's description of two: Firearms database prohibition. A prohibition on the use of funds to create, maintain or…

I know that pending is the firearms legislation, which America is watching very closely, and which we will speak to at length as we proceed to this measure. I, of course, will come to the floor at that time to address some of the issues…