the Appropriations Committee is committed to keeping America strong, to supporting its United States military

I am very proud of this committee and the way we have supported the United States military.

I want it to be the pause that refreshes, not the pause that gives us heartburn.

Well, we want to continue the momentum of the Ten Point Plan.

Hats off to you, Mr. Chairman. I know this is your last official hearing on this committee with the head of the VA.

I just want to make two quick points.

We want to make sure that our veterans have the best healthcare that they can get, and that their claims are handled as expeditiously as possible.

We want to continue the momentum, so we need not only a leader, we need a real leader.

We want to be on the floor as soon after Memorial Day as we can to show that it is not just words, but it is deeds.

One of my biggest priorities is reducing the backlog of pending veterans' disability claims.

I am committed to a budget that supports our veterans and your mission.

This office continues to be the worst performing office in the entire country.

We left no bills behind, and showed we can govern.

Before the Senator from Oklahoma leaves the floor and we proceed to a voice vote, et cetera, I wish to thank him for his steadfast advocacy in getting more value out of the taxpayers' dollar for the taxpayers' contribution to the Federal…

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Oklahoma wish to speak?

No way we want to inhibit the Senator's ability to speak. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.

Well, actually, I want to comment on how I want to work together with the Senator. Go ahead and offer the amendment, and then I would like to comment and not engage in klutzy conversation by asking questions. I think we are on the same…

Oh, I am sorry, I thought the Senator from Oklahoma was involved in a conversation with the Senator from Iowa.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 13, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on Banking, Housing…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 13, 2014, at 10 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on…

we are in the process of sorting out the amendments that are pending, again, to see what we could accept by UC, what we could accept by voice vote, and those that might require a rollcall vote. The chairman and the ranking member of the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the…

I want to first and foremost express my thanks to the chairman, and his colleagues, for this bipartisan bill--a long overdue effort that clearly is the result of a painstaking, patient effort by the committee to reauthorize the Child Care…

I am going to give a recap of where we are and then note the absence of a quorum as we sort through our amendments. This is the second day of the Senate's consideration of S. 1086, the child care and development block grant reauthorization…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 13, 2014, at 11 a.m. in room SR-253 of the Russell Senate Office Building, to conduct a…