Standardized written tests can only assess a portion of the skills and qualifications required to succeed in the Foreign Service.

I rise today to speak about two of the Federal government's most important innovation programs: the Small Business Innovation Research program, also known as the SBIR, and the Small Business Technology Transfer program, or STTR for short…

I was pleased to see the Administration changed the Federal contracting for minority-and women-owned small businesses.

I just note that we have extended this program, with bipartisan co-sponsorship, both in the House and the Senate.

The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will come to order.

Our Committee needs to be the advocate for where small businesses have a disadvantage over large companies.

I thought Secretary Yellen should testify before this Committee, and I so told you that.

I think the confusion is that the determinations were made by the Trump administration.

I would think this is an area that is going to be of interest to every member of this Committee, obviously.

We just got back from the memorial service funeral for Secretary Albright, which was a fitting tribute to her incredible service to our country.

That is quite a record and I just really wanted to acknowledge that, and I am glad to see that you have been able to keep up with the demand that is out there.

We are making progress. The Biden administration has been pretty strong on this.

The Biden administration released a hold. They looked at the records that were submitted.

as Lady Bird Johnson said, ``The environment is where we all meet, where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.'' This quote from when she served as First Lady of the United States during President Lyndon…

What the Administration does, I think, is the right thing, is tell the processors, 'Check to make sure they qualify under our rules.'

I appreciate that my Republican friends are here to listen to it. I am sorry my Democratic friends are not.

I rise today in strong support of Judge Jackson to be the 116th Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. As a Senator, one of the most important responsibilities I have under the Constitution is whether to provide my consent to a…

I am a little bit perplexed as to this amendment having been even controversial.

That is fine with me, if we have the Chairman and Ranking Member willing to do that.

It is very challenging to use these funds for coastal habitat restoration.

We all want to work in a cooperative way. But I haven't heard one reason why we shouldn't move this bill forward.

I agree completely with Senator Whitehouse on this issue.

It is a totally voluntary program. So it has to be initiated by the owner, whether it is public or private.

I support this bill, and I compliment the Chair and Ranking Member for working out the issues so we can move this bill forward.

I regret we haven't had a hearing on it. I think we should have had a hearing.