Passage of the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 is an important victory for individuals who are affected by mental illnesses. Over a decade has passed since we enacted the landmark 1996 mental health parity law that was championed by my…

on this day 220 years ago, in 1787, our Founding Fathers gathered at Philadelphia and signed a document that remains today our country's moral compass, our Constitution. The preamble to that Constitution reads: We the people of the United…

I heard one of my friends on the other side of the aisle come here this afternoon and talk about why we aren't getting more things done here; why are we doing the Defense authorization bill now; when are we going to do the Defense…

I would also add to the remarks I just made. In addition to what I outlined earlier, look at what we have done on Iraq. We forced the President to debate this issue, to talk to us about this issue. The Republicans had to debate us. This…

6 years ago today, 2,974 men, women, and children became innocent victims to a cowardice and hatred we will never understand. I remember very clearly watching from the windows of the Capitol, S-219, as smoke billowed from the Pentagon in…

His plan is neither a drawdown, nor a change in mission that we need. His plan is simply more of the same -- to keep at least 130,000 troops, American troops, in the midst of an intractable civil war. This is unacceptable to me. It's…

we haven't made as much progress on the Transportation bill as I had wished, but we are making progress. This is what happens with these complicated bills on occasion. Tomorrow night people should expect votes into the night. It will not…

Every day we wait is another person calling--as I remember it, and it has been a long time ago now, I say to my friend, a long time ago. My dad was a lot younger than I am right now when he killed himself. I can remember that phone call. I…

I spoke briefly yesterday morning. A 19-year-old soldier from Las Vegas came back to Las Vegas. He told his parents and everybody else he didn't want to go back to Iraq. I think they said they gave him medicine--Prozac, whatever it…

the only person here was Senator McConnell--and that is what the Republicans have done during the illness of Senator Johnson has been exemplary. There have been occasions when, for partisan advantage, the minority could have taken…

We have had hundreds of soldiers who have killed themselves in Iraq. A lot of them are not suicide reported. I so admire and appreciate what the Senator from Iowa is doing with regard to this legislation. It is so very important. Suicide…

Senator McConnell and the entire Republican caucus have been so thoughtful regarding Senator Johnson's illness. There were things the Republican minority could have done to have taken advantage of the situation of his being ill. That was…

I begin my remarks on this fall calendar in a position of wanting to get a lot of business done. But first I wish to make a few remarks about two of our most distinguished colleagues, Senator Warner of Virginia and Senator Kennedy of…

I also want to say a few words about another one of the Senate's most distinguished and legendary Senators, and that is Ted Kennedy. The last day of our session was extremely frantic. We were trying to do certain things. Well, we had a lot…

Above all, every day we must continue to fight for a sensible, responsible path out of Iraq in order to restore America's national security. Later this month, President Bush will issue a report on the state of the war that Congress…

I think it certainly is noteworthy--and that is an understatement--to recognize that this good man has passed everyone, except Senator Byrd, in the number of votes cast. Senator Byrd has cast over 18,000 votes, but there is no close second…

August was a time for us to leave Washington for a while, spend time listening to and reconnecting with our friends, neighbors, and constituents back home. Someone this morning on the telephone asked me what I remember most about the…

one thing I failed to mention with FDA, we got a letter from the administration saying: Go to conference on FDA. We tried. It was blocked by three Republicans. They should not have written the letter to me. They should have written it to…

I wish to talk about what we have accomplished in these short 7 months. We have worked hard. We have worked long, hard hours, something that hasn't been done for a long time in this body. Let's talk about the bills we have sent to the…

I wish to say, before I turn to my prepared remarks, I too have the greatest admiration for Admiral McConnell, but I have to say, I am concerned that we have Admiral McConnell here checking on us. I mean, he should not be--``do you want to…

Mr. President, as we know from the briefings we have received from the Director of National Intelligence, the FISA law needs to be updated. But I underscore and certainly want to be made part of the statements made by my friend, the…

I have been informed the Presiding Officer has received something I have never gotten in all the many years I have been in the Senate, the Golden Gavel Award. For those who are listening, it is given to those people who preside 100 hours…

I wish the record to reflect how much I appreciate the work of Senator Leahy on this very important matter. The Freedom of Information Act is something that has needed amending for some time, and I am happy we are able to do it tonight…

the 17th century English writer, Izaak Walton, said-- Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God, and value it next to a good conscience; for health is . . . a blessing that money can't buy. Today in America, good health is not…

last week the Iraqi people celebrated a very rare triumph, they won a soccer game. But their celebration had nothing to do with decreased violence, improved distribution of water, electricity or other basic necessities or, of course…