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

I ask unanimous consent that the time until 5:30 p.m., for debate on the McCain amendment, be equally divided between Senators McCain and myself or our designees; that at 5:30 p.m. the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to the McCain…

Let me thank the chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski. This is her first major assignment on the floor of the Senate. It is an awesome responsibility. I note that she was not only up for this job, she was made for…

I announce the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Lautenberg), the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Manchin), and the Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. Whitehouse) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the…

We have heard from the Republicans on the other side of the aisle that they oppose this intrusion of government into health care and creating health insurance exchanges so Americans who currently don't have a choice in health insurance and…

I would ask of the Senator, pending before the Senate is the Cruz amendment which would literally remove any funding to implement the Affordable Care Act, as I understand; is that correct?

What is good enough for these Senators apparently is not good enough for the rest of America?

The same Senators who are critical of ObamaCare because the government is involved in health care have themselves, their families, and children protected by a government-administered health insurance plan?

Is the Senator aware of any Senator on the Republican side who has come forward--and there may be one, I don't know--who has said: I am so opposed to government-administered health care, and as a Senator I will not take advantage of the…

I see my friend and colleague from the State of Rhode Island, who serves on the Defense Appropriations Committee as well as the Armed Services Committee, and I will yield to him next. I do want to say a word about the Department of Defense…

Does the Cruz amendment eliminate this government- administered physical exam which is available for Members of the Senate?

Is it also true the seniors who would receive benefits under the Affordable Care Act, for example, annual physicals which are available, those would be eliminated as well?

The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, which protects Senators and Congressmen, is not affected by the Cruz amendment?

This breath-taking Cruz amendment would actually say to these families with children who are currently on the family policy up to the age of 26: It is over. Those kids are now on their own.

I would like to ask the Senator from Ohio, is he aware of the fact every Member of the Senate has a government-administered health insurance plan?

Did I hear the Republican leader come to the floor and speak about thousands of pages of regulations, government regulations, which will now be part of health care?

The premise behind this is the government shouldn't be involved in this, as I understand the Republican argument; is that correct?

I am starting to note a pattern here. The Senators who wish to do away with government-administered health care for everyone else want to keep it for themselves. Does that pattern emerge from the Senator's analysis?

Is it also not true in the U.S. Capitol we have an Attending Physician's Office run by the U.S. Navy, a government entity, which makes itself available to each Senator if they care to pay a monthly fee for annual physicals--a…

Is it not true the amendment by the Senator from Texas is breathtaking because it says we eliminate all funding for the Affordable Care Act in terms of, for example, the extension of the availability of health insurance for children up to…

we have been assured by the House in the construction of this bill that this provision was added explicitly to make certain that there be no question that the grants that are given to these organizations would be authorized and included in…

I don't know if Senator McCain is nearby, but if he is, I want to give him a chance to come over and use the few minutes remaining before the rollcall vote. But for those Members of the Senate who did not listen to the earlier statements…

I ask permission to engage in a dialogue with my friend from Arizona. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mr. McCAIN. I say to my friend from Illinois that there is no further objection. The Senator from…

I thank my colleague from Arizona as well. I think we have a rare moment of peacemaking and harmony in the Senate. It may not last for long, so I want to speak while we have that moment and say for the Record that I don't dispute any of…

I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded. I wish to give my friend, Senator McCain, the author of this amendment, the opportunity to speak. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mr. McCAIN…