Thank you. You mentioned the Office of Science and Technology. You have requested additional funding, for a total of $85 million.

There is concern here because we do not control all the terrain on which this aid is going.

I have never supported the sequestration. I always thought it was a big mistake. These are across-the-board, mindless cuts that say every priority in government is identical to the other. That is not the case. If you had a problem in your…

If you do not mind me just commenting quickly, there is an undermining of trusts between governments and citizens when the government has custody of a child and the relatives are not notified.

We have a responsibility to make sure they are safe. The system failed in your case.

That just should not happen.

Your story is not only inspirational, it gives us hope that we can choose the right decisions in life.

today marks an important day in history as our nation continues to honor the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. There are many landmarks in my hometown of Baltimore that are significant to the history of the Civil War that I believe are in…

He was ultimately approved by the Senate by 72 to 22 votes.

I would just encourage you to be very aggressive... to make sure that the opposition groups that we are supporting in Syria isolate themselves from those extremists.

He understands the U.S. Senate.

The international community looks to the United States as the best chance to resolve international conflicts.

I want to thank Tom Perez for his many years of public service.

I would like to recognize the National Coalition for the Homeless, an outstanding organization of activists, advocates, and community and faith-based service providers working to end homelessness in America. This year, the coalition…

I do believe we have to put the resources up for East Asia and the Pacific.

We are proud of Tom Perez and his incredible record of service.

We have to be very clear that for U.S. participation... there is an expectation that the countries will commit themselves to basic internationally recognized human rights.

I am very proud to support his confirmation as President Obama's choice to be Secretary of Labor.

He received the highest praise from the business community, the labor community, the consumer community.

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The question is on agreeing to the amendment. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant legislative clerk called…

I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 720 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, there is now 2 minutes of debate equally divided prior to a vote in relation to…

I believe both of those actions by HHS are contrary, clearly to the intent of Congress, but I think also contrary to the legal ability to issue such regulations.

I am deeply concerned, Madam Chair, as to how sequestration is going to affect the availability of credit to small businesses because it is going to contract your capacity.

A $700 deductible per child is not a quality plan, it is 2nd-class coverage.

The passage of the Affordable Care Act, which has provided an opportunity for small businesses today who have been shut out of the competitive market to be able to get into a competitive market.