I have no objection. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Missouri [Mr. Blunt] proposes an amendment numbered 1155 to…

I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 2 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I want to thank Senator Kaine and Senator Corker. This is the second day that we have been debating the nuclear oversight bill. Members have had a chance to express their concerns. They have had a chance to put forward amendments, to file…

I thank Senator Kaine. I appreciate his outline of how this legislation went from unlikely to have much impact, because we didn't have the consensus and the numbers necessary to get it through the finish line. It would have had a very…

I wish to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing April as National Minority Health Month. 2015 marks the 30th anniversary of this event, which provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the progress we have made in addressing…

I rise today to introduce the Supporting Colorectal Examination and Education Now, SCREEN, Act. This legislation promotes access to colorectal cancer screenings in an effort to help prevent colorectal cancer and save lives. Colorectal…

I wish to discuss an enormous human tragedy: another boat carrying desperate refugees and migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea and, in this most recent instance, over 850 men, women, and children have died. It is profoundly…

I wish to thank and congratulate Senator Corker for his extraordinary work in reaching this moment where we have brought to the floor of the Senate a bill that deals with congressional oversight of the nuclear discussions and agreements…

today is Earth Day, and on Earth Day it is important for all of us to reflect not only on how human activity impacts the environment but also how those impacts on the environment affect people. Unfortunately, one of the impacts of climate…

I would like to welcome our nominee here before this committee.

What Senator Menendez said on diversity, there are a lot of us who are very concerned.

I strongly support that. Two tranches have been included in your budget. The third has not.

One of the most fundamental responsibilities of this committee is to give guidance on our foreign policy to our diplomats and to our development professionals.

When we do not pass an authorization bill, we are not carrying that out the way we should.

I believe the Department of State has been hamstrung for too long by the lack of authorizing legislation.

American diplomats and development professionals are the best examples of talented people that are on the frontline for America.

I hope we can work together to get that authorized. I think it is an important point.

These types of concerns are obviously counter to the mission of the United Nations.

I am a strong supporter of our participation in the United Nations, let me make that clear.

I assure you, I am going to be looking at this and taking you and the chairman at your word that we will have the opportunity to get your input so that, if we need modifications, we will have opportunity to present those during a committee…

I would just urge you to consider a public hearing before we mark up, and particularly to give non-governmental stakeholders an opportunity to be heard.

At the very minimum, there needs to be a public hearing when we have the text of the legislation.

And ultimately trade sanctions?

If we could work on some language between now and mark-up, we would certainly hope we could work together in regards to that issue.

I do not know how we could proceed without giving the stakeholders an opportunity to be heard in this committee, including organized labor.