Well, I want to thank you all, each and every one of you, for what you're doing every day to make sure the needs of vulnerable populations are taken care of.

your commitment to--ongoing commitment to the empowerment of women and girls and children around the world is legendary.

I come to the floor today both volcanic and flabbergasted. I am volcanic that this bill is not fully paid for and that we are using permanent solutions to solve temporary problems. And, I am flabbergasted that Republicans are more willing…

now what is the pending business? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senate is in a period of morning business. ____________________

I wish to claim 10 minutes to speak on behalf of a bill which I hope will return to the Senate today, which is the surface transportation reauthorization bill. I hope we take it up. I hope we actually vote on it, and I hope there are not a…

what is the parliamentary situation? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority controls the time until 6 p.m., and Senators are limited to speak for up to 10 minutes each. ____________________

I claim 10 minutes of the Democratic majority time. I come to the floor to speak about women's health. I come to speak about the issue of prevention, and I want everybody to fundamentally remember what we debated and what we did in the…

I support a clean extension of the FAA bill. But I cannot support the conference report that's before the Senate today because it includes a radical provision to undermine our rail and airline workers' right to organize. The FAA bill is a…

I am proud to introduce the Spending Reductions Through Innovations in Therapies Agenda Act with my good friends and colleagues, Senators Collins, Kerry, Blumenthal, and Warner. This is a bi-partisan and bi-cameral bill that I have worked…

Senator Kirk and I have introduced the Visa Waiver Program Enhanced Security and Reform Act. This is a piece of legislation near to my heart. For those who have known me, they have known I have fought long and hard for Poland to become…

I think we need to have a robust new legislative framework and we have to de-conflict these issues.

Good morning, everybody, though it's mostly heading into the afternoon. I would like to thank each and every one of you for the wonderful work you do every day, in every way, protecting our country.

I yield back all the time on the Republican side. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. All time is yielded back. ____________________

I rise to oppose the balanced budget amendment proposals before us today. I support a balanced budget. But I cannot support these proposals. All year, we have been discussing and debating how to have a more frugal government. But while we…

There is such compelling interest in this issue in Maryland from iconic institutions like Hopkins and the University of Maryland.

I know the hour is late. This has been a very needed conversation and I look forward to reviewing the testimony.

This is a local, State and national problem that, unfortunately, affects all of us.

The FDA lacks authority to require notification from manufacturers when a plant shuts down, which could lead to a drug shortage.

I have heard from Maryland hospitals, doctors, nurses and patients that drug shortages are a serious problem with serious consequences.

Senator Alexander is a very valuable member of this community and committee as a former governor in Tennessee, the president of a university.

Are we talking about mandatory reporting, encouraging reporting for child maltreatment?

I particularly, again, want to thank Lauren Book, who was here all day and her advocacy is every day, and her testimony will be duly noted.

I do not minimize that. But should the first line of reporting be child protective services, or should we go directly to the cops?

I do not believe Congress has done enough to prevent these atrocities.

Do you think we should have one-size-fits-all mandatory reporting?