States across the country are expanding passenger rail service. For example, in Illinois we are adding new routes from Chicago to the Quad Cities and Rockford.

Senator Leahy joined me in this effort to help provide a level playing field for our States.

I know personally the extraordinary efforts made by the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee to bring this patent reform bill to the floor. I have worked with him in the past, and it has not been an easy task. I know that many times…

It is hard to believe we have reached that point in Washington where we are going to fund our government 2 weeks at a time. Critics may look at us and say that certainly the men and women who serve in the House and Senate ought to be able…

I think that your budget request is a far more responsible approach to the national security challenges we face than what we've seen in the other body's fiscal year 2011 proposal.

The impact of those cuts on the operations of our Embassies--which all Americans who travel, study, or work abroad depend on--will be severe.

Last year's supplemental appropriation included $25 million specifically for reforestation in Haiti.

The United States should be a strong voice for people living under repressive, corrupt regimes who are demanding the freedoms we often take for granted.

On February 25, 2011, President Obama signed an Executive order freezing Libyan assets in United States banks.

employers in several States, including Illinois, are facing an automatic tax increase if Congress doesn't do something. That is right. Businesses that are struggling in this recession face a Federal tax coming their way if we don't act. I…

the budget the President released Monday includes more than $1 trillion in deficit reduction and two-thirds of it comes from spending cuts. That puts the Nation on the path toward fiscal sustainability. But it also reflects the urgency to…

I really believe that we need to get to the heart of the matter, and that is why I have introduced the Fair Elections Now Act, public funding.

I support the DISCLOSE Act.

We are not talking about super PACs. We are talking about super secret PACs.

I hope that this bill passes. I hope the DISCLOSE Act starts basically lifting the veil on some of the expenditures that are taking place.

The President understands we have two challenges as a nation. The first is to create more jobs because we have too many people out of work. Secondly, we need to reduce our deficit. It seems they are cross-purposes, but they do not have to…

Without putting any of you on the spot, as you know, the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security have begun a more vigorous enforcement effort.

Voluntary conduct is not enough. Court orders are often necessary for appropriate action.

The Internet needs to be free and open, but not lawless.

It is my understanding this amendment by the Senator from Kentucky would establish a new authorization level for the Federal Aviation Administration, which would revert to the level of 2008. I think it is worth noting that this may cut…

I view it as imposing basic fairness and accountability, basic responsibility for the enabling or facilitating of the outright lawbreaking and theft of property that should be countenanced by no one.

We ought to be just as incensed on that. So inaction is not an option.

I will support this extension because it gives the Senate time to properly consider this critically important legislation. But before I support any additional extensions of the PATRIOT Act, I believe we should have an honest discussion…

3 years ago today, a mentally disturbed gunman walked into a campus lecture hall at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and shot 22 students, killing 5 of them. John Peters, the president of Northern Illinois University, the students…

Today, President Obama kicked off this conversation by presenting his budget to America. He presented it at a time when he faces two very significant challenges: how to create more jobs and less debt. It is a tough balancing act because we…