I want to recognize the work of organizers in Springfield, IL, who are kicking off the national Civil War Sesquicentennial observation by reading President Abraham Lincoln's ``Farewell Address'' on the 150th anniversary of its original…

Sunday is the 100th anniversary of the birth of President Ronald Reagan. When Ronald Reagan was born, his father Jack looked at his new son and exclaimed, "He looks like a fat little Dutchman but who knows, he might grow up to be President…

the FAA authorization expired in October of 2007. For more than 3 years we have been operating on short-term extensions--17 total short-term extensions. The Federal Aviation Administration, airlines, and the flying public, all deserve a…

I can't say with any certainty anything about the critics of the government's affordable health care plan, except one thing: Each of the critics on the Republican side of the aisle of what they call government-administered health…

I know it must have caused some concern across America.

it is interesting that we face one of the toughest economic recessions in modern history and a world in turmoil, as many countries are challenging their leadership and assessing the future, and the focal point of the Republican legislative…

I wish to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs, an artist, writer, and cofounder of the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago, IL. Although she was born in Louisiana, Dr. Burroughs moved to Chicago to…

This hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee will come to order.

Well, the people elected the Congress, and in 2010, they changed the Congress, and that is why we are not subjects, why we are citizens.

The opponents sought to continue their political battle by challenging the law minutes after President Obama signed it into law.

The limiting principle is clear. The Liberty Clauses prevent anyone from forcing Americans to eat certain vegetables or go to the gym.

The Necessary and Proper Clause makes clear that the Constitution's grants of specific Federal legislative authority are accompanied by broad power to enact laws that are convenient, or useful or conducive to that authority's beneficial…

I think the answer is obvious, but ultimately the Supreme Court will decide.

One of the reasons that this presumption should have stronger and special weight in this case is that, in fact, the U.S. Congress... considered these constitutional issues.

Judge Vinson basically said, 'Since I found this one section to be unconstitutional, I am going to basically say that the entire Act is unconstitutional, virtually unconstitutional.'

Congress has broad power to regulate private behavior where there is any rational basis to conclude it substantially affects interstate commerce.

For the record, I think the other four witnesses have acknowledged explicitly that the health care industry is part of commerce.

The Constitution does not create or protect the freedom to freeload.

I think the same is going to happen with the Affordable Care Act.

The constitutional fate of a great Nation cannot be decided by semantics and word games that label real-world actions as inactivity.

That is like saying that if you could make a commitment that you will never use health care, that you will never visit an emergency room, that you will never seek the ministrations of a doctor, then you should be free not to enter this…

Let me remind you that the citizens of the earlier United States were well acquainted with many taxes.

I think those of us on the Judiciary Committee and serving in the Senate understand that many people can read that Constitution and come to different conclusions.

I want to invite my colleagues on the Democratic side, if they would like to move and fill these seats, they would be certainly welcome to come closer.

I think this has been an excellent hearing.