The public increasingly is losing confidence in this tax system.

People in this country increasingly think the system is rigged.

If we cannot narrowly follow Mr. Stack's advice and Senator Wyden's ideas and do something narrowly now about inversions, we clearly have not lived up to our public charge.

The burden rests way more with DOD than it does the VA, but you are urging the DOD to do it.

We have heard my colleagues, we have heard the media around the country, very critical of the VA, in many cases deserved.

It has been a good couple of weeks for the city of Cleveland.

I think it is very important that we work hard on that.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thanks for holding this hearing.

There has been some fear and anxiety even in a city the size of Cleveland as young people have looked elsewhere.

It is pretty apparent, it is pretty obvious, that U.S. trade policy and tax policy have encouraged jobs, American companies, to relocate overseas.

What do we change about U.S. trade policy? What does TPP do, what does TTIP do, to begin to change that whole view that is part of many companies' business plans: to shut down here, move overseas, and sell back into the United States?

I have received a number of calls in recent weeks, as we all have, about what is happening at the Veterans' Administration. Over the July 4th week, back in Ohio, I heard from lots of veterans at roundtables in communities all over the…

I ask unanimous consent to yield back all time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, all time is yielded back. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Julian Castro, of Texas, to be Secretary of…

Thank you, Madam President, and thanks to Senator Enzi who is one of the most cooperative Members of the Senate on so many levels. He and I cochaired the Air Force caucus together and he has been good to work with. When I sat on the…

The goals of tax incentives for higher education, I believe, should be twofold.

yesterday I chaired, along with Congressman Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, the Congressional-Executive Committee on China. At this hearing, Terry Sefranek, a Clevelander actually from Brooklyn Heights, OH, a suburb of my city…

I call this hearing to order.

Can we trust our Chinese counterparts to enforce safety up to our own standards, given China's poor enforcement of their own laws and rampant corruption?

We have called this hearing to seek answers for American consumers, pet owners, farmers, and parents about the safety of pet treats, processed chicken, and animal feed from China.

Thank you for joining us. I thank my Cochair, Congressman Smith, for being here and for his interest always in these issues.

I will introduce you in a moment. Thank you for joining us.

Americans want to know where their foods come from and want to make sure that everything is being done to keep it safe.

Americans want and require better answers, clearer labels, and the peace of mind that the foods we import from China are safe.

American manufacturing has taken quite a hit in the last 15 years in this country. Some 30 years ago, U.S. manufacturing made up some 25 percent of gross domestic product. Today that number has declined to somewhere in the vicinity of 10…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. U.S. Manufacturing