I agree with President Obama that America's interests and the interests of the Cuban people are best served by dialogue and engagement, not isolation.

I want to thank you. This is a tough job, and you continue to serve your country in this capacity, and I thank you very much for your willingness. You are the right person. I wish you had more support.

First, we should look at our tax code and make it simpler and more predictable.

What leverage will we exercise over Cuba in regard to our expectations that they will make progress on these internationally recognized human rights standards?

Cuba is an authoritarian state where elections are neither free nor fair.

This committee should be your advocate for adequate resources.

it seems to me what this Congress has done in cutting your budgets makes no sense, and I am disappointed that this committee has not been a stronger advocate on your behalf, on the agency's behalf.

The Earned Income Tax Credit is an extremely important provision in our tax code that offers fairness to middle-income working families.

That one area that I think unites every member of this committee and the United States Senate is that we all stand together in our aspirations to see the Cuban people have the opportunity to build a society where human rights and…

as we consider both the Barrasso and Cardin amendments, I wish to remind my colleagues of the unique history the United States has with Indian nations. This history includes over 300 treaties that were negotiated with individual tribes and…

I ask unanimous consent that I take a few minutes to debate the next amendment and save a little bit of time at the end by withdrawing the amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I take this time to bring to my colleagues' attention that January 27 represented the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and Birkenau--Auschwitz, the concentration camp that became a death camp; and Birkenau, a death camp…

let me first thank Senator Carper for his comments on the need for us to pass a homeland security appropriations bill. I think our constituents would be surprised to learn that we have not passed an appropriations bill that funds for this…

it is my understanding that in about a minute we are going to be voting on the first of a series of amendments. The first amendment is the amendment I have offered which I talked about before. I want to remind my colleagues what this…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Flake). Without objection, it is so ordered. Amendment No. 75

I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To clarify that treaties with Indian tribes remain in effect) At…

With that, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.

It is critically important that our local governments have the ability to keep their people safe.

I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside so I may be able to offer my amendment, amendment No. 124. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The assistant…

my amendment states that S. 1 may not ``change, suspend, supersede, or abrogate any trust obligation or treaty requirement of the United States without consultation with, and the informed express consent of, any affected Indian nation…

I also want to emphasize the need for giving our local governments flexibility.

We need to invest in transit and we have a game plan to do that.

I strongly support a robust reauthorization, long-term, of our transportation needs.

It needs to be long-term. As has been pointed out, our States and counties cannot plan without the long-term commitments from the Federal Government as their partner.

could I ask my colleague from California to yield for a question? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.