I rise in support of one of Maryland's favorite sons, Mr. Tom Perez, the President's nominee to lead the Department of Labor. Mr. Perez has been the Assistant Attorney General for the United States and has also been Maryland's Secretary of…

I am proud to rise today to support the Keep Student Loans Affordable Act. This bill would extend the current interest rate of 3.4 percent for subsidized Stafford loans for the next school year. This interest rate reflects a record low for…

I come to the floor to speak on the bill that is before us, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill. No matter what side of the aisle you are on, we can all agree that our current system is not working, and it is in need of reboot and…

The choice is ours. This committee will play an important role in that debate.

Just think about that, what priorities we have as a nation when we are cutting $40 million from senior meals programs.

In the year 2013 in the United States of America, our seniors should not be worried about where they will get their next meal.

The good news is the Older Americans Act is an important part of the solution.

We need to make sure that the American people know what our programs are, know what we are spending our money for.

I do not want ever to have a grid shut down here in the Greater Capital Region or anywhere in the United States.

There is no attempt here to muzzle, stifle any Senator from asking any line of questions.

We have Senator Leahy from the Judiciary Committee, well versed on the issues of law on cybersecurity.

I have been urging my colleagues that before they draw a conclusion and go public with that conclusion, they first learn about the counterterrorism program.

Any Senator can ask any question at this hearing that they want to.

We need to make sure we spend the money well.

We do not want that to happen as we move forward in this cyber domain.

We could have no greater champion than Senator Mikulski and we thank her--and you--for the bipartisan support this committee has demonstrated for higher education opportunities for our active duty military forces and their families.

I think the intel community, which is primarily particularly a DOD civilian force--you need that flexibility.

I want to acknowledge the work of Senator Durbin and the Ranking Member Cochran on Defense.

It is time now for a new, fresh national debate.

We need to prevent hackers, nation-states, and criminals from stealing our cyber identities.

People do have a right to know. People have a right to say their voices. That is why we responded.

I am concerned every day about the number of people out there, with the great intellectual entrepreneurship of our country, that are coming up with new ideas and new products to create the new jobs for the 21st century.

We in Maryland feel we are at the epicenter of cybersecurity because we have the National Security headquartered there.

All of Maryland is reeling from this. One, the National Security Agency is in our State.

I come to the floor today to recognize an important anniversary. Fifty years ago Congress passed the Equal Pay Act, a law that was to ensure pay equity for women in the workplace. This landmark legislation was signed into law by President…