How can Congress help address this very serious problem of pilot shortages, which ultimately is going to have a serious impact on our readiness?

I am seeking successful passage of S 979, a bill sponsored by Senator Bill Nelson, FL and Senator Susan Collins, ME.

Those numbers are so high when you look at comparisons with other schools.

The suspension of the Sea Year was a drastic step for the academy to take and for Secretary Foxx to order, but in my view, it was justified, given the problems.

Thank you very much for your testimony and the work that you have been doing on this very important issue.

We simply have to get a handle on this problem and move to a zero-tolerance environment.

if I were in the position of a young midshipman who had been sexually assaulted and knew that they were going to face retribution by their peers or maybe by others at the academy, and that it was likely that nothing would happen to the…

There is just such a lack of respect for women there. Once we stepped through those gates, we were no longer human. We were just objects for them to conquer.

Unfortunately, just like many other universities, service academies, and even, we recently learned, the U.S. gymnastics team, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) continues to face challenges in addressing incidents of sexual assault…

This week marks the beginning of a month that is devoted to raising awareness of sexual assault and sexual harassment, so our hearing is particularly well-timed.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is a critical institution dedicated to ensuring that our country educates and retains credentialed officers in our armed services and merchant mariners for the maritime industry.

I am not seeing an improvement in the statistics.

I am committed to exploring ways that we might improve expanded access programs to provide patients with terminal diseases more options.

Is that happening? Are individuals, in your judgment, being held accountable, disciplined, kicked out of the academy? Is action taken?

We bear the responsibility to ensure the safety of the young people enrolled.

Victims simply must not be subjected to sexual assault and harassment nor face retribution for speaking up.

It is simply unacceptable that any midshipman would feel that way and would feel such a lack of respect.

Let me be clear: sexual assault is a heinous crime that must be eradicated in every corner of our society.

I wish to speak in support of the Main Street Fairness Act, which will help to create tax parity for passthrough companies, the significant majority of which are small businesses. I was very pleased to be joined by my friend and colleague…

Section 501 of the fiscal year 2017 intelligence authorization bill...requires the President to establish an interagency committee to counter active measures by Russia.

One of the aspects of this investigation that I found troubling that we've already learned is how weak our response is when we have a disinformation campaign.

I think in this case this is something that would give them a tool, if they've crossed that line, to say, stop, here's what we know and here's the consequences.

confirming a Supreme Court nominee is one of the Senate's most significant constitutional responsibilities. I come to the floor today to announce that I shall cast my vote for Judge Neil Gorsuch to be a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Missouri.

I want to take a moment to thank you, Chairman Collins, for introducing a bipartisan resolution declaring that achieving the primary goal of the National Plan to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer's disease by 2025 is indeed an…