the fish are not waiting for us, as you know.

We are very concerned. We have a bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force, as you know, in the Senate as well as the House.

if there is one technology that looks like it will work to begin to deploy that.

first I want to thank my partner and colleague, Senator Peters, for his wonderful friendship and commitment to the people of Flint. We both share this. This has really become a second full-time job for us, given what has happened in Flint…

I rise to express my disappointment that we have not yet been able to come to an agreement on the issue of GMO labeling. Senator Roberts and I have a long history of friendship and of working together. We have both worked very hard to come…

over 20 million people have received health-care coverage because of the Affordable Care Act, literally saving people's lives

the un-insurance rate is the lowest it has ever been, and Medicaid expansion has resulted in literally millions of our most vulnerable families receiving the care that they deserve

We believe there is a need for a new comprehensive bi-partisan approach to solve the problem.

it is absolutely unacceptable what is happening to pensions in our country.

If pensions are going to be cut, then those people's salaries and benefits should be cut as well.

I also think that we should not see pension funds being used to lobby.

a promise is a promise, and so it needs to be kept.

I think there is a broader discussion that needs to happen here about the undermining of the middle class in this country by undermining the pension system.

That is absolutely unacceptable, in my mind.

I support all of the things being talked about, certainly from a law enforcement standpoint and so on. But ultimately we have to have treatment in the community.

If we do not, then we are going to still be going, in my judgment, around and around and around with a lot of pieces that are important, but not the core of what happens in the community.

We need systems change to create treatment in our communities.

I could not agree more. As co-chair of the Foster Care Caucus with Senator Grassley, I completely agree.

We have mental health parity, we have substance abuse parity laws now, Medicaid expansion, but we do not have the systems change.

if I may respond to that. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.

first, I commend my friend and colleague from Tennessee and share his feelings about passing the Marketplace Fairness Act. I hope we are going to see that happen as soon as possible. I am joined on the floor by my dear friend and colleague…

The Governor of Michigan sent a letter to the President asking for close to $800 million in disaster assistance to deal with all of the issues we are talking about. What we have been working to do is ask for Federal help for about 25…

I thank the Presiding Officer. I am going to take 1 additional minute to emphasize the fact that yesterday our colleague from Texas said we are too optimistic trying to get help, while at the same time the President was signing a Federal…

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been negotiating and negotiating with the chair of the Energy Committee, the ranking member, and with other colleagues on the other side of the isle. I want to particularly thank our ranking member…

I want to thank you for all of the efforts of your department and the administration in helping us with the incredible public health emergency in Flint.