What I'm worried about is NICE is not so nice, generating clinical outcomes significantly worse for patients.

I wish to join with my colleague and say that Republicans unanimously supported this bill that provides appropriations for our veterans and for our military construction needs unanimously in the subcommittee. Our Republican members…

we are wrapping up to a vote that we hope will occur on Senator Vitter's amendment at noon. I will summarize where we are. We are completing debate on a bill that provides funding for the Veterans' Administration and military construction…

I remind Members, we are now moving to final passage on our first appropriations bill of this Congress. It has been 2 years since the Senate has passed a separate freestanding appropriations bill, but this is a bipartisan measure. It is…

I extend my thanks to Chairman Johnson again. This bill passed by a vote of 97 to 2. It is the first appropriations bill separately passed by the Senate since November of 2009. It represents a substantial achievement of bipartisan…

I am worried that while much of the crisis that the American people suffered from was triggered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, in my view, because it was loaded with politically connected lawyers and lobbyists, the Congress did not reform…

I am worried that, so often, the Government is slow, dead, uninnovative, as opposed to the private sector.

I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bennet). Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I rise briefly to commend the work of the Gang of 6 and what they have done for our country in what is a complicated proposal with details forthcoming but largely reflecting the actions of the bipartisan deficit commission and what could…

I share very much the sentiments of my colleague from Louisiana, Mr. Vitter, but I would urge us to not support the amendment because the Senate has already ruled on this question. When we debated whether to take up this bill, we voted on…

I would suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

I ask unanimous consent that Joel Garrison of Senator Wyden's staff be granted floor privileges during the consideration of H.R. 2055. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I first came to Capitol Hill in 1984 during Ronald Reagan's first term. I believe it was Chairman Hatfield running the committee on the Senate side and Jamie Whitten on the House side. I care very much about the appropriations process and…

while we are waiting for authors of their amendments to come to the floor to speak on a point of personal business, I wanted to rise to eulogize one of my mentors in politics. State Representative Betty Lou Reed died this week. She was…

I thank our ranking Republican member on the Budget Committee because in normal circumstances I would be strongly supporting him and agree with him. The irony is, this legislation conforms to a budget, it conforms to the Paul Ryan House…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. REMEMBERING Betty Lou Reed

this is a joint amendment. I support it. It concerns a report on the operations of Arlington National Cemetery. It is very necessary. My understanding is that this then sets up the vote that the leaders have scheduled for Monday afternoon…

Do you see a systemic risk posed by these two States to the municipal finance and bond sector for the United States?

Should we have a kind of Greek-style bailout for Spain and Italy?

I urge Members of this body to support cloture on taking up the debate on the veterans and military affairs appropriations bill for next fiscal year. Chairman Johnson and I have put together a completely bipartisan bill which was…

I ask unanimous consent to speak for 2 minutes as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Veterans Affairs and Military Construction Appropriations

we have just learned that Ahmed Abdulkadir Warsame was arrested by the U.S. military in April. This news has just come to us, learning that this man who fought for no country and wore no uniform and under an international law is considered…

I would like to agree with the Senator on the Libya resolution. But I understand from the majority leader that we are not going to take up the Libya resolution now. I would just urge them-- before we descend into any potential partisan…

beyond the debt limit extension, which has rightly consumed the attention of this body, we face another challenge--the funding for our roads, airports, and railroads. Our best estimate is that current needs would total $225 billion…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate is in morning business. The Senator is recognized. ____________________