on China, negotiations are ongoing between the Trump administration and Chinese officials about a potential detente in our trading relationship. Of import to the Chinese is the recent arrest of Huawei's CFO on charges of violating U.S…

we have a short time left before appropriations expire on Friday. Yesterday, we made some progress. Thankfully, President Trump appears to have backed down from his position for billions in direct appropriations for a border wall. For the…

with only 4 days remaining until a lapse in government funding, Democrats still have not heard back from President Trump about whether he is willing to accept either of our offers to keep the government funded. For that matter, Republicans…

Later this afternoon, the Senate will likely vote on a package of amendments and then final passage of bipartisan criminal justice reform. I wholeheartedly support the bill and intend to vote yes on final passage later today. Among other…

A ruling last Friday from a Federal judge in Texas has put the future of the Affordable Care Act in doubt. Every American should be aware of the fact that if the rule is upheld, the entire law will come crashing down, including health…

Finally, on a matter near and dear to my heart, the great Senator from the great State of Indiana--unfortunately, we are going to be saying goodbye to Members of our caucus who won't be returning to the 116th. This morning, I want to share…

on another subject, we are 5 days away from a lapse in appropriations, and President Trump still doesn't have a plan to keep the government open. In fact, the only indication he has given is that he wants a government shutdown. At the…

finally, to my dear friend and about my dear friend, the Senator from North Dakota. The task sadly falls to me to begin saying goodbye to Members of our caucus who will not be returning in the 116th Congress. This morning, I would like to…

we have just a little over a week to come to some agreement on how to fund the government past next Friday. Leader Pelosi and I have given the President two options to keep the government open. Both are noncontroversial. Neither contain…

a brief word on China. I have spent the better part of the last two decades encouraging administrations to be tougher on China, which has risen to challenge the United States economically, not through fair trade and fair competition but by…

let me talk a little bit about yesterday afternoon. Yesterday, Leader Pelosi and I met with President Trump about funding the government past next week. We gave the President two options to keep the government open. The first option: Pass…

First, Mr. President, let me add my words of fond farewell to the senior Senator of Utah. Back in the good old days, we worked on a whole lot of things together, when the place was a little less partisan--immigration, patents, and so many…

But we believe you shouldn't shut it down.

When the Senate brags that he won North Dakota and Indiana, he's in real trouble.

later today, the House is poised to send us a 2-week continuing resolution, which will give us time to hash out the remainder of the appropriations process this year. I expect it will pass this Chamber later this afternoon. President Trump…

this morning, the life and career of the 41st President of the United States was celebrated at the National Cathedral. Friends, family, former leaders of our country, and leaders from around the world gathered to pay tribute to a life…

I ask unanimous consent to speak on leader time before we have a vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

my heart is also heavy today at another loss: Giles Perkins, who was one of the top lawyers in Birmingham, AL, and the former head of the Alabama Democratic Party. He died of cancer over the weekend. He was a close friend and mentor of one…

in a short time we will gather before proceeding to the rotunda to honor the life of George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st President of the United States. George H. W. Bush will be greatly missed in many ways. He was undeniably dedicated to…

now, on another matter, the special counsel investigation. To date, the special counsel's investigation has produced no less than 35 indictments or plea deals--35--and that does not include two additional guilty pleas of people initially…

next Friday, appropriations expire for 7 of the 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2019, and we are in good faith negotiations with our Republican counterparts here in the Congress to get them enacted. The good news is that because of…

later this afternoon, the Senate is scheduled to vote on the confirmation of Mr. Thomas Farr for the Eastern District of North Carolina. I have made my opposition to this nominee clear on a daily basis, but allow me to remind my…

this weekend President Trump will head to Argentina for the G20 summit, where he is expected to meet with President Xi of China to discuss our trading relationship. Now, I have opposed the President on most things. That is hardly a secret…

first, I would like to talk about the unfortunate news we heard from General Motors. Yesterday, General Motors announced it was closing five factories and laying off 15,000 workers. The news is a gut punch to workers in Ohio, Michigan, and…

first let me welcome everybody back from Thanksgiving, which I hope was a joyous one for everyone here today. On a subject not so joyous, the majority leader has indicated that the Senate will move to the pending nomination of Thomas Farr…