Rob Portman

What concern does that practice give you?

This is a problem and this goes to our need to have a secure border, not just for immigration purposes, but for money, guns, drugs, and certainly for terrorism.

I think it is clear that we live in a dangerous world and it is something we have to be concerned about.

But I do not think we should ignore the refugee side of it, either.

I have to tell you, I am very skeptical of what I hear today about 10,000 Syrians coming into this country.

That is a shocking number, 5,000, and just so people understand what we are talking about here...

On the issue of opioid abuse, particularly heroin, which is the growth area in my State of Ohio and around the country, we now have the alarming statistic that in Ohio it is the No. 1 cause of death.

I am very concerned, as you know, about the fact that we seem to be pulling the plug on our ability to have that enrichment capability.

I think that is frightening. I think it is bad for our national and economic security and energy security.

They are frustrated. They are angry, understandably, and so am I.

This is a whole new mandatory program, of course, a big new entitlement program where we do not have the verification.

It was unbelievable.

We are going the wrong way.

For 30 years, Presidents of both parties have said there should be an economic cost-benefit analysis, and this has been consistent.

The White House would not have the same gatekeeping power that it enjoys under those Executive Orders to stop, stall, or change executive branch agencies' rules for political reasons.

I am the author of the Independent Agency Regulatory Analysis Act, which we will be talking about.

I agree with what Senator Heitkamp just said about how Congress has a role here and that, when we get behind on the legislative front is sometimes when you have agencies step in and sometimes overreach.

I appreciate the fact that the Chairman just included his statement in the record.

This has been bipartisan. It has been something that we have been working on for a few years now.

I would like to thank my colleague from Rhode Island. I was in support of his legislation. I am glad we got both bills done, and I appreciate the fact that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle realize the urgency of dealing with this…

Again our understanding is, there have been no consequences for not honoring that litigation hold.

I think taxpayer service is important, and I would like to see us increase the funding for taxpayer service.

This goes to accountability. I am glad to see you have changed that policy.

In fact, Senator Hatch and I were the first people to raise this issue when Ohio's 501(c)(4)s were being asked inappropriate things by the IRS.

A culture of accountability needs to be in place for us to be able to begin this process of regaining the trust of my constituents and the American people.