I think Senator Blunt did a marvelous job of laying it out.

The country is producing a lot more energy thanks, in very large part, to the states like North Dakota; very positive for the country in terms of knowledge, job creation, economic growth, but having affordable energy and from a national…

I truly appreciate it.

I rise today to talk about the Iran sanctions legislation, but first I want to talk about the veterans legislation we are on, and why it is so important that we include the Iran sanctions provision. I believe we all want to make sure we…

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

I see the good Senator from New Mexico is here. I am willing to defer to the Senator if time is an issue for him. If it is not, I will proceed. ____________________

I rise to speak on the issue of the military COLA. This is a cost-of-living adjustment for our military retirees. In the budget agreement, the COLA was reduced for military retirees by 1 percent until they reached age 62, and then the COLA…

it is interesting that I follow our minority leader who spoke about the Keystone XL Pipeline issue, as well as the chairman of the agriculture committee in the Senate, the esteemed Senator from Michigan Ms. Stabenow, who has done such a…

I thank the Senator from Louisiana for her work on the flood insurance bill. I am pleased to join her in that effort. It is very important. I hope we do have an opportunity to address that this week. We will continue to do all we can to…

I thank the Senator from Minnesota for joining me this afternoon. Today we are introducing the Driver Privacy Act. I am very pleased to sponsor that legislation with the good Senator from Minnesota. We have a great group that has joined us…

I thank Senator Klobuchar for joining me on this legislation and working to develop a great group of 14 original cosponsors. Senator Klobuchar brings such a great background as a prosecutor in the law enforcement industry and truly…

I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.

I really believe in that States' first approach.

We have legislation pending right now which I think will pass very soon.

We need to find ways to address that backlog.

I thank the esteemed Senator from Ohio for his remarks and express my support for his remarks as well. Myself and other colleagues have been on the floor today talking about the need to work in a bipartisan way. Obviously, the business…

I and my colleagues stand here holding the floor in defense of fair and free debate, and the longstanding traditions of the Senate that promote consensus. We are here working on nominations because the majority leader has determined that…

I rise to continue the discourse my esteemed colleague, the good Senator from Missouri, was engaged in on the Senate floor just a minute ago, talking about the importance--the importance--of bipartisanship as we work to craft policy for…

I objected earlier, and I want to express my appreciation to the good Senator from Rhode Island. I understand his concerns, but I want to take a minute just to explain the objection that we have. I don't think there is anyone in this…

I want to reserve the right to object. I am certainly willing to let the good Senator make comments. But at this point I want to reserve the right to object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

I thank the good Senator from Louisiana. I am very pleased to join in this colloquy with my cosponsors of this very important piece of legislation. This is about affordability of home ownership. The American dream is about home ownership…

in North Dakota we have a lot of farmers and we have a lot of ranchers. They are small businesspeople. They run small businesses. They are being hit very hard by ObamaCare like other small businesses across this country. A rancher from…

I wish to thank my esteemed colleague from Illinois and take this opportunity to offer some remarks on the debt ceiling and the continuing operations of the government. I come to the floor to make an appeal for action, action on opening…

Reserving the right to object, the good Senator is talking about a resolution that has already gone from the Senate to the House. That has already been done. Why do we keep going back to things we don't have agreement on, rather than…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 206, H.R. 3230, making continuing appropriations during a government shutdown to provide pay and allowances to members of the Reserve components…