I ask unanimous consent that of the postcloture debate time under my control, that 60 minutes be yielded to Senator Schatz, 60 minutes be yielded to Senator Whitehouse, 35 minutes be yielded to Senator Merkley, and 15 minutes be yielded to…

Senator Sessions, right here, called for Loretta Lynch-- then Attorney General--to recuse herself because of a conflict of interest under the very same guidelines we cited. We hope and we pray that Senator Sessions doesn't have an enormous…

I urge my Republican colleagues to stop rushing this nomination and ensure that we collect all relevant information on these troubling conflicts of interest. Madam President, I yield the floor, and I yield back the remainder of my time…

I rise this morning to address the events of General Flynn's resignation as National Security Advisor on Monday night and the need for a full, independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the facts of the case. It is now…

I rise to speak on the potential repeal of the Social Security Administration's rule that helps keep guns out of the hands of those with a severe mental illness. I voted no. First, I want to point out that this rule only addresses a…

I thank the Democratic whip for his remarks, and I will have much more to say on the circumstances surrounding General Flynn's resignation as National Security Advisor later today. This morning, I rise to speak about the nominee on the…

candidate Trump ran a populist campaign that promised so much to working America. Many of those themes were actually echoed in his inaugural address, but ever since President Trump took the oath of office, he has gone about breaking…

before our great friend from Utah gets up, I have other remarks; I will let the Senator from Utah speak before those. But I want to join my distinguished friend the majority leader in recognizing the Senator from Utah, who has become the…

I thank my friend for his kind words and, most importantly, his distinguished service to his country. Now on to other subjects.

First, let me thank my colleague from Minnesota. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader.

And I meant what I said: He doesn't need any help. He does it so well on his own. So I will regard this not as a quid pro quo--although he can get what he wants--but as an act of kindness and generosity. Mr. President, I rise this evening…

I yield one hour under my control to Senator Murphy. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has that right. The Senator from Minnesota.

I rise this morning to speak directly to my friends on the other side of the aisle. Now is the time to put country before party. I understand the pull of party loyalty. I understand deference to a new President. But from what we have seen…

if the average American heard someone read a letter from Coretta Scott King that said what it said, they would not be offended. They would say that is someone's opinion; that is all. It seems to me that we could use rule XIX almost every…

we here in the Senate have a tradition of mutual respect among our fellow Senators. We have a spirit of comity. It is a tradition that I hold in high esteem. Last night that tradition was violated, and the Senate went in a very bad…

I don't want to prolong this much more. In light of what my friend from Florida said, I would just reread what I said earlier. If average Americans heard someone read a letter from Coretta Scott King that said what it said, they would not…

it is my understanding--I was not there-- that there was a warning over Senator Kennedy's letter, but the actual ruling was based on Coretta Scott King's letter; is that correct? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, that is correct.

I yield 1 minute to the Senator from Maine. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.

I just listened to my friend the majority leader and the majority whip on the floor. They are able legislators, but they are sort of misleading the public as to our motivation. They have tried to paint every Democratic request as leftover…

very briefly because I know we have to vote, the nominee for the Secretary of Education is one of the worst nominees who has ever been brought before this body for a Cabinet position. On the grounds of competence, on the grounds of…

I spoke at length about the Supreme Court nomination yesterday, but I just want to underscore a few points. We in the Senate have a constitutional duty to examine the record of Judge Gorsuch robustly, exhaustively, and comprehensively, and…

One final point: I want to take a moment to mention Ukraine. Yesterday Rex Tillerson was sworn in as Secretary of State. In addition to dealing with the fallout from the President's first engagements with Australia and Mexico, I want to…

Now, on another matter, the pending nominations of the President's Cabinet, again, we are in unchartered waters with this administration. They have not proposed a normal Cabinet. This is not even close to a normal Cabinet. I have never…

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

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