today I rise to support two outstanding nominees to the federal bench in the Southern District of New York. Over the years, I have had the great good fortune to support many outstanding candidates to the federal bench. Rarely, however…

first, I rise in full support of this amendment, and I thank Senator Menendez for his leadership on this issue, which dates from a long time back, and Senator Kirk, who has really lit a flame of concern under this body about this issue…

Would you support any of these proposals or at least agree to work with my colleagues and me on the Committee to develop an on-ramp that will help companies access public markets while protecting investors?

We have introduced a bill that would accelerate that job creation by creating an on-ramp for small- and medium-sized businesses to go public.

Would you choose our bill as the one that would do the most?

In your view, does our bill strike a good balance between easing the burdens on small-company IPOs and protecting investors?

I applaud your leadership on this issue and applaud the efforts to actually create legislation that addresses the biggest problem that has the potential to have the greatest impact on job creation.

I rise today in honor of National Community Foundations Week. This week, we recognize the millions of Americans who have joined together to make their communities a better place through donations of their time and resources. The generosity…

I rise today to introduce the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA. JASTA is a bipartisan effort to make modest changes to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, or FSIA, and the Anti-Terrorism Act, or ATA, in order to ensure…

These proposals should be given very serious consideration.

In their VISIT-USA Act, Senators Schumer and Lee have made several proposals to provide long term visas to Chinese tourists...

It poses no threat to millions and millions of law-abiding gun owners across the country who do have the right to bear arms, while keeping guns out of the hands of those who are most likely to misuse them to terrible ends.

There is a right to bear arms, but there is also a balancing test.

They still have to be adjudicated mentally ill.

Make sure the records of all persons who should not be allowed to buy guns are in the background check system.

I do not want there to be any more 'what ifs.'

I am concerned about the resurgence of the efforts to make concealed-carry permits legal across State lines.

We might be able to reach some common ground here in terms of at least moving parts of our legislation.

I believe there is a right to bear arms, but I also believe it is not absolute.

No amendment is absolute. Reasonable limitations are placed on the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, and should be. So should they be on the Second Amendment.

However, there are still about 1.5 million mental health records missing, according to GAO estimates.

I have worked hard to make sure that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System was enacted, implemented, and in place.

I cannot sit idly by while that happens each day, and I know that you will not either.

I truly believe with all my heart that your actions can save lives.

I tend to be a tough-on-crime guy, and I think one of the great things that has happened to New York is crime rates are way, way down.