I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Nomination of Merrick Garland

during the recess last week, I had the opportunity to meet with Judge Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, President Obama's nominee to fill the existing vacancy of an Associate Justice of the…

I do not like deficits, particularly when you are wealthy enough and strong enough to be able to pay for it.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess as under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 12:25 p.m., recessed until 2:15 p.m. and reassembled when called to order by the Presiding Officer (Mr. Portman)…

today I wish to recognize the tragic death of a Marylander. Officer Jacai Colson of the Prince George's Police Department was killed in the line of duty, on Sunday, March 13, 2016. Officer Colson was an upstanding law enforcement officer…

today I wish to join the American people in celebrating Women's History Month. It is clear that 1 month is hardly enough time to recognize all that women have done, what they are doing, and what they have yet to accomplish. Despite the…

I think that is a huge diplomatic effort that we could do.

This is an issue that needs to be engaged with Pakistan as we deal with some of the other security-related issues.

So we really could, I think, develop international gold standards and not get into just the lowest common denominator.

The challenge is you run into countries--and I will mention again Pakistan that has an internal need.

I can envision that we are going to be approached by a Gulf state saying, look, we think we need a civil nuclear program, and because of our region it is important that we have the ability to enrich internally.

There is greater need today than ever for all of us to work together, bipartisan, to provide U.S. leadership to reduce the threat of destructive materials.

I think this has been a very helpful hearing.

I think it was good news that we were able to get, through U.S. leadership, the Security Council action against North Korea.

the timing could not be more appropriate, two weeks before the fourth Nuclear Security Summit

We do have tools. I mean, we do have the United Nations and the IAEA and the protocols and the potential for Security Council sanctions against those who violate those protocols.

We attempted at one time--the Chairman was active on this--to look at 123 agreements and say, look, we understand there is world technology.

That is an excellent point, because the way that these agreements are being lobbied on Capitol Hill very much underscores the point that you are raising.

The other area that I mentioned in my opening statement is the absence of Russia that is very much believed to be part of the status of our current relationship with Russia, the problems in Ukraine and elsewhere.

It is obviously very distressful that they will not work with us on a fissile material treaty.

we should be under no illusions about the enormous nuclear proliferation challenges we face, but looking ahead, we know that the price of freedom from nuclear terrorism is eternal vigilance.

If more assistance can be directed to NGOs, we should do that.

It has truly been, I think, the appropriate oversight by the United States Senate.

We are concerned about Europe looking to the lack of reforms in Ukraine as a reason to back away from some of the sanctions that are in place against Russia.

The pressure by the administration on Russia has not been what most of us would have liked to have seen.