my friend also talked about the accomplishments of the various committees. My caucus knows how much I believe in the committee system. I think it is very important that committees work well. We know one committee that is not working well…

I am happy to be here and have the Republican leader talk about the things he has been able to accomplish, but I would note--just to make sure the record is clear--the reason these things are happening is because we have a minority that is…

Also, Mr. President, as to the appropriations bills, I was a longtime member of the Appropriations Committee, and I am glad we are moving forward on the appropriations bills. Why didn't we do it before? Because we had objections from the…

I appreciate the Republican leader talking positively about the Energy bill, which we called the energy efficiency bill in the last two Congresses, when we tried so hard under the direction of Senator Shaheen from New Hampshire to get this…

I want to say just a brief word on another subject. Last week marked another horrible anniversary, the 2-year anniversary since the terrorist group Boko Haram invaded a school in Nigeria and took away 300 little girls. They were girls…

21 years ago today, in Oklahoma City at 9:02 a.m. Oklahoma City time, Timothy McVeigh detonated a bomb at the Federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 innocent people, and 19 of them were children who were there with their parents on…

the Senate Republicans are making history but for all the wrong reasons. The Republicans' obstruction of President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, is the first of its kind in Senate history. Never before has the Senate…

I really have to smile when I hear the Republican leader with his ``Senate is Back to Work'' speeches. The Senate Republicans are like the guy who shows up only half the time for work and then asks for a raise. They go through the motions…

it has been almost 3 years since the Senate passed comprehensive immigration reform. Senate Democrats worked with a handful of Republicans to craft a good, fair, comprehensive immigration reform bill that passed with strong bipartisan…

I agree with the Republican leader that the energy bill is a good bill. As I said yesterday, it is just 3 years behind time. We have tried many times to move forward on it, but filibusters took place by the Republicans, and we were unable…

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cotton). The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

I am very happy we are at this point. This legislation has taken 3 years. It has been hard to get to where we are today. We can go back to a lot of hurdles that we have had to jump to get to where we are now, and we can affix blame to a…

no matter what work or occupation one has, it is always good to have a diversion away from their duties of the day. I am very careful about never speaking for the Republican leader, but I will make an exception today and talk a little bit…

I join with the Republican leader today in honoring Christine Catucci on the occasion, which has already been mentioned, of her 40th anniversary of working for the U.S. Senate. In any given year, about 2\1/2\ million people visit this…

throughout his career in the Senate, the senior Senator from Iowa has styled himself as an advocate for transparency in government. A number of years ago he said: I believe in the principle of open government. Lack of transparency in the…

we are 102 days into 2016, but because of wage discrimination, working American women are still stuck in 2015. Today is National Equal Pay Day, a date that symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what their male…

last Thursday the senior Senator from Iowa came to the floor to declare that he is feeling no pressure in blocking President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland. However, Senator Grassley's actions paint a far different…

later today the Senate will confirm Waverly Crenshaw to serve as a district judge for the Middle District of Tennessee. Mr. Crenshaw is a superb nominee with impeccable credentials and a sharp legal mind. He works at a prestigious law firm…

last Thursday a Gallup and Healthways survey revealed more good news about the ever-shrinking rate of uninsured Americans. Because of the Affordable Care Act, 91 percent of American adults now have health insurance. ObamaCare has been…

I am gratified that the Presiding Officer today is from the State of Nevada--my friend, the junior Senator from Nevada. When I think of home, I think of the desert, and you can't talk about Nevada as a desert only, even though the vast…

I announce that the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Durbin), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Sanders), and the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring…

I announce that the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Durbin) and the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Rounds). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was…

I agree with the Republican leader that it is important that we get the FAA bill done as soon as possible, but I would just have everyone reflect--when we were in the majority, we tried to bring up the FAA bill, and that went on for weeks…

we can play around all we want with the Supreme Court and what the Constitution says or doesn't say, but we know that the Constitution says that the President shall--not may, but shall--nominate Supreme Court Justices. He has an…

I announce that the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Durbin) and the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Hoeven). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was…