now, a year that was full of bad news for the country is coming to an end with some very good news. Over the past 8 to 9 months, American scientists, biochemists, and researchers rushed to produce a safe and effective vaccine to the…

now one other note--today, members of the electoral college are gathering in all 50 States and the District of Columbia to formally select Joe Biden as the next President of the United States of America. Typically, the meeting of the…

this week, the Senate returns with precious little time left to finish important matters of business. Last week, both Houses of Congress passed the annual Defense bill with veto- proof majorities. If President Trump takes the rather…

the CARES Act passed the Senate on March 27, 2020. It was a rare moment in bipartisanship--a legislative triumph that saved our country from disaster in the very early days of the pandemic. As you know, I sat and negotiated a great deal of…

first, I want to thank the Senator from Oklahoma for, as usual, his courtesy, which I very much appreciate. ____________________

with each passing day, we get another round of news underscoring how costly this pandemic has been. Yesterday, over 3,000 Americans--3,000--died from COVID-19, the highest single-day death toll to date. If you were making a list of some of…

You will hear voices say Democrats want to fund state and local services while Republicans, that is Leader McConnell, wants corporate liability shield.

Make no mistake, right now, there's one person, just one person standing in the way. And that is Leader McConnell.

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Tribute to Doug Jones

sadly, I return to the floor today to say farewell to another Member who will conclude his time in the Senate at the end of the term, the junior Senator from Alabama, Doug Jones. We all know Doug came to the Senate as a storied courtroom…

the most important item on the Senate's to-do list before the end of the year is a bipartisan emergency relief package for a nation suffering the worst month of the COVID-19 pandemic. Negotiations continue between a bipartisan group of…

everywhere you look, there are signs the country needs emergency Federal relief before the end of the year. Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are rising. COVID restrictions are snapping back into place in cities and States around the…

last night we received the sad news that a former colleague of ours, one of our finest, Paul Sarbanes, had passed away. While our time in the Senate only overlapped for one term, Senator Sarbanes made a deep impression. Known as the…

first, let me thank my colleague and friend, the senior Senator from the great State of Nevada, for her words. They are on point. I hope the Republican leader was listening. I hope our Republican colleagues were listening because her…

first, let me add my words of fond farewell to my friend Lamar Alexander and the touching moment between the leader and the senior Senator from Tennessee, which is moving to all of us. Now, Senator Alexander and I have not always agreed…

first, I spoke earlier about Senator Alexander, but I would like to compliment my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. This is a fine and rare moment of bipartisanship and support of somebody we all admire and respect.

Now a few other remarks. We have a going and we have a coming, and our coming is of a new Senator who will be installed today, and that is CAPT Mark Kelly, who will be sworn in as the next Senator from Arizona. It may not be the role he…

yesterday, I mentioned the several big- ticket items left on the congressional agenda before the end of the year. Over the next few weeks, the Senate must pass an appropriations bill to keep the government funded. We must pass the annual…

first, I hope all of my colleagues had a good and fine Thanksgiving. We all know that across the country we celebrated a Thanksgiving--all of us, every American--unlike any in recent memory. Too many loved ones spent this holiday alone…

before I yielded the floor, I talked about Agent Orange, maybe before he had come on the floor, and it would be outrageous--the Senator from Montana has done great work helping our veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange get the…

now on President-Elect Biden's nominees, as President-Elect Biden prepares to assume office on January 20, he is beginning to announce a slate of qualified, experienced public servants whom he intends to nominate to his Cabinet or other…

They have released the whirlwind and they will pay the price.

first, let me join all of my colleagues in wishing the Senate pro tempore, the senior Senator from Iowa, Senator Grassley, a speedy and quick recovery. We know he is a strong man, and we have every confidence he will beat this back, as he…

on Judy Shelton, today the Senate will vote on the nomination of Judy Shelton to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve. Ms. Shelton is, without a doubt, one of the most unqualified nominees I have ever seen for…

on COVID, by all rights, the Senate should not be spending its time this week on so many nominees, especially such unqualified nominees, while COVID-19 is surging throughout the country. The urgent need for another relief bill has been…