this development is not considered conducive to strengthening relations between the countries on defense affairs.

are we in morning business or do I have to ask consent to speak as in morning business? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate is on the bill.

I came to the floor previously to speak about President Obama's unconstitutional appointments of Richard Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and of three new members to the National Labor Relations Board. I…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Recess Appointments

we were honored to have Senator Shaheen join us. I know there are others who would like to be here today. We are here to tell the sordid facts of this case. But we are also here because change can occur. If this were completely hopeless…

I thank my colleague from Maryland. And yes, indeed, there are other cases of human rights violations, not the least of which I have highlighted time and again on this Senate floor--being the cases of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon…

I expect to be joined in a moment by my colleague and good friend, Senator Cardin, and he and I and perhaps others will be talking about the deteriorating situation in Russia with regard to human rights and the rule of law. I came to the…

Political expediency should never be an excuse for a rush to judgment on public policy--let alone our national security.

I do not see any tactical or diplomatic sense in your recent announcement about telling the enemy the date we are going to pull out troops.

Iran continues its path toward a nuclear weapons capability.

The situation in Syria continues to deteriorate.

I expect that a resolution authorizing National Crime Victims' Rights Week will be adopted unanimously by the Senate in a few moments. I wanted to come to the floor today and reaffirm my support for the rights and needs of survivors of…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. National Crime Victims' Rights Week

Secretary Donley, are you moving forward with a LEED policy despite congressional direction to look at all green building rating systems and the ban on LEED Gold and Platinum certifications?

Secretary Panetta, my staff has been working with your staff on determining cost and schedule delays for newly commissioned military officers.

Admiral Greenert, can the neoprene boot be removed from the Seawolf spare dome and reused?

the decision to pull 18 Global Hawk Block 30 aircraft out of the active inventory seems shortsighted.

As we draw down forces in some areas of the world and focus on the Asia-Pacific region, this will be a linchpin in the American force.

Building the capacity of the ASF is a key element of the administration's Afghanistan policy.

Secretary McHugh, how will the information derived from the RFI and VFD be used to make an acquisition decision?

I want you to clarify something you said, because I think you said that if there are cost overruns the overruns would be borne mostly by the manufacturer.

I do not see any tactical or diplomatic sense in your recent announcement about telling the enemy the date we are going to pull out troops.

Well, if implemented this move would leave Keesler without a flying mission, and the taxpayers have expended considerable dollars for the C-130Js, and I'm very concerned about this proposal.

The Navy budget calls for a decrease in the number of deployable battle forces to 284 ships in fiscal year 2013.

General Odierno, the Army states that the Kiowa Warrior SLEP is the basis for comparison.