But that does not give them any right whatsoever to occupy that part of the Crimean peninsula that is not on the base.

The Russian position, no one in the world believes it, is that these are not Russian troops which have occupied Crimea.

Do you believe the value of the RCTA program warrants authorization by Congress?

I am deeply concerned about the administration's budget request that it may not provide the full range of equipment and ready forces necessary to our national security strategy in the Asia-Pacific region.

It just concerns me a bit, as I look at what is going on now with some of our European allies, countries that have relied, to their detriment, on promises that we have made about the integrity of their territory.

Experience over the past decade demonstrates that the demand for amphibious warships will not decrease.

I was disappointed to learn that President Obama's budget request contains zero funding for these schools.

I think that is an unacceptable position for the United States to take.

As DOD will have to make financially tough choices and continue to scrutinize its finite resources, will DOD commit to funding the TDAI?

I believe the Air Force must make force structure decisions based on long-term global force requirements, as well as concrete and defensible data.

It would be fair to say that a relatively modest investment will keep these invaluable programs open and available for these hundreds of thousands of participants?

Will it be more cost-efficient to maintain the two C-310J squadrons at Keesler Air Force Base?

With the Senate's permission, I propose to speak, along with Senator Manchin, as in morning business on another matter. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection. Puerto Rico Status Resolution Act

the distinguished Senator from Iowa talks convincingly and persuasively about so many times when Members are shut out of the process. Certainly chief among those would have been in 2009, when we could have used the expertise of Senator…

We talk a lot about the failures of the Affordable Care Act. Because of ObamaCare, 7 million people are expected to lose their employer-sponsored health insurance by 2024. Another 5 million Americans have seen their health care plans…

There's been some publicity about a letter that Senator Ayotte and I wrote to you on February 20, 2014.

We need to ensure that all users shoulder an equitable burden for the wear and tear on our Nation's roads.

Funding transportation infrastructure is a combined Federal and State responsibility. We need to do better, because the Nation deserves better, as Senator Merkley said.

We have an obligation to the users who are paying the fee, an obligation to ensure the revenues are going to their intended purpose; namely, building and maintaining our Nation's roads and highways.

Bipartisanship is breaking out all over in the Congress. It continues today and as we debate Federal transportation reauthorization, I hope we can build on this success.

is Iran negotiating in large part because it desperately needs sanctions relief?

I wish to speak as if in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I see that S. 1963, a bill to repeal certain reductions made by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, is on the calendar. I didn't vote for the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, and my no vote was cast for one reason--this so-called…

the key thing we're interested in and most concerned about is the more highly enriched uranium--the 20 percent enriched uranium.

would you agree that economic sanctions imposed by the United States played a major role in driving Iran to the negotiating table and agreeing to the JPA?