This is a very important discussion, I think, in terms of the future of our country in so many ways, in terms of jobs and energy.

Thank you, Mr. President. I am very pleased to join with a number of colleagues today representing all of those in our conference who are deeply concerned about the mound of debt that students incur when they are doing the right thing. We…

it is now my great pleasure to yield to the distinguished Senator from New Hampshire. I have to say that Senator Shaheen's voice has been strong and clear. She has been one of our strongest advocates as far as what we need to do on student…

I thank my friend from New York, who has been so passionate on the broad question of how do we have a fair shot as Americans to get ahead and particularly as it relates to affordability and college loan debt. We are so pleased to have…

I will yield 5 minutes to the distinguished Senator from Minnesota, and as one of the lead sponsors of this bill, I thank Senator Franken for his passion and fight not only for people in Minnesota but for the 25 million people across the…

You are the health care father to millions of children who would not have health care or mental health services.

You need to reauthorize CHIP so that anywhere from 2 million to 4.5 million children who are currently enrolled will not lose their insurance.

I am concerned about the differences there.

This is a very, very important issue, and I appreciate the focus now and look forward to working with you.

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for up to 10 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Income Equality

as the Presiding Officer is well aware, as one of our great leaders on our economic agenda, of what we are calling a fair shot, it is incredibly important in the time we are in session that we have an opportunity to vote again on each of…

Thank you, Madam President. I would ask to speak for up to 10 minutes as if in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection.

I agree with Senator Hoeven that nothing takes the place of being there and talking to people.

Kerri Sleeman, as a supervisor, deserved to receive the kind of pay she should receive as a supervisor. One of the things I find outrageous is when we hear folks on the other side of the aisle say equal pay for equal work is nonsense; the…

Thank you. First, I thank the distinguished chair of the Budget Committee for her words and her work on focusing on middle- class families and making sure the economy grows for everyone. I wish to echo and expand upon the very same topics…

I thank the Presiding Officer. In a few moments we are going to be voting on a very fundamental principle and a very important bill that is literally about bringing jobs home to America. The question before us is, Are we going to begin to…

thank you very much. We have to make things and grow things, and this is about making sure it is in America when we make things and grow things so we have a middle class. But the reality is we have to start in the Tax Code by making it…

first I would ask the Presiding Officer if he could notify me after I have spoken for 4 of my 5 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator will be so notified.

I would also underscore what Senator Thune said in his comments on technology.

I want to underscore, I think, the importance of capacity building as it relates to women in leadership.

These are valuable lessons.

Well, we hope future trade agreements will correct that.

We need to be focused on that.

I think Social Security is a great American success story.

in a few minutes we are going to have the opportunity to make it clear to the American people that we get it, that we understand, that we need to be bringing jobs home to America, that it is not acceptable we have lost 2.4 million…