Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing as it is absolutely outrageous.

I just think there is so much that can be done and I really applaud you for your leadership on this...

Well, it seems to me this is a perfect example where consolidation makes sense.

I agree with your comments, with Senator McCaskill's point about that the IRS ought to be embarrassed...

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to restore a…

my amendment would allow for legislation setting a more sensible definition of ``full-time employee'' under the Affordable Care Act. Under the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, the definition of a full-time employee averages…

my amendment is No. 144. I ask unanimous consent that it be called up at this time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Maine [Ms. Collins] proposes an amendment…

let me thank the ranking member of the Budget Committee for all of his incredibly hard work on this issue. It is a hopeful sign that the Senate is finally debating a budget to set priorities for Federal spending and revenues in the coming…

I would like to echo Senator Reed's comments and thank the Chairwoman for her support of the Weatherization Assistance Program. This program is currently facing significant funding challenges and its viability in many States is threatened…

I rise today to introduce the Formerly Owned Resources for Veterans to Express Thanks for Service Act of 2013, also known as the FOR VETS Act of 2013. I am pleased that Senators Leahy and Carper have joined me in cosponsoring this bill…

I am pleased to be a cosponsor of the amendment sponsored by my friend from Alaska, Senator Murkowski, which would provide $150 million in disaster funding for officially declared fisheries disasters. The funding for declared fisheries…

I rise to speak on an amendment I have offered with my colleague from Colorado, Senator Udall, but before I do so, I want to commend the senior Senators from Maryland and Alabama, Senators Mikulski and Shelby, for putting forth a…

on April 10, 1963, the submarine USS Thresher sank off the New England coast. The loss of 129 officers, sailors, and civilian technicians was a tragedy for the Navy, our Nation, and especially for the families of that gallant crew. The USS…

But we have got to go after these people and we have got to put pressure on the Jamaican government to continually update its laws.

I would like to see them put the effort in this, in stopping these scams, that it puts into enticing Americans to come vacation in Jamaica.

I am concerned when you look at the dramatic increase in the number of complaints over the past few years, the estimate of $300 million, that our efforts, while they are well intentioned, are just not strong enough.

I can assure you that the Chairman and I are going to pursue this vigorously. This is just wrong.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. That is typically gracious of you, and let me start by thanking you for holding this very important hearing.

This committee has a great history of working together in a bipartisan fashion to bring to light the scams and swindles targeting our nation's senior citizens.

We want to see some indictments and some extraditions and some prosecutions.

Just like Senator Collins said, they stop at nothing.

if we saw prosecutions and tough sentences for some of the criminals in those cases, it would have an impact.

I believe to be the only bipartisan flexibility bill that would give, essentially, agencies the ability to set priorities.

I would suggest--and maybe we'll get into this in the closed session--there needs to be much more transparency in order for us to make a judgment on whether or not doing such sweeping exemptions is wise policy.

I think the fact that they haven't produced a change suggests that General Mattis is correct in saying that they're not working.