I join my fellow colleague from Ohio Senator Portman to offer our condolences and prayers to the people of Chardon, OH, who experienced a terrible tragedy earlier this week. On Monday morning, February 27, a troubled young boy opened fire…

I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 20 minutes and to yield at the conclusion of my first 10 minutes to Senator Portman. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. High School Tragedy

I would like to talk about an important part of the transportation jobs bill the Senate is debating this week. The bill is about creating jobs by modernizing our roadways and highways, about making our bridges safer--we know what that…

since 2009 the last day of February has been observed as Rare Disease Day. Each rare disease affects a small patient population--less than 200,000 people--but there are more than 7,000 rare diseases that, combined, affect 30 million…

It is a good budget. It shows a strong commitment to veterans.

We should, of course, never tolerate them, and I know your views about that, Secretary Shinseki.

Our main concern about the Department's outsourcing of more and more work. The quality of outsourced work is often subpar.

The disability rating system clearly needs substantial improvement.

The fact that today I believe there are 30 community-based outpatient clinics, CBOCs, in Ohio speak to your commitment.

The VA and our veterans cannot simply be viewed as just another client.

I like the idea. I think an individual's motivation to serve our veterans as a career leads to better serve contrasts sometimes to services provided by companies that are motivated by profits.

I agree with Senator Burr on the job issues and the fact that we are going to be spending a lot of money, happy to do it.

The cost savings are usually illusory and often the costs are significantly greater we learn from outsourcing.

If the VA continues to outsource more and more activities, at some point are we going to reach the point where the VA is a health insurance provider rather than a health care provider?

Has the Sri Lankan Government has proven it deserves this funding considering the lack of effort to include the innocent Tamil population in a multicultural society following the civil war.

What can the State Department do to help workers in China increase their capacity to organize and protect their rights?

How does that manifest itself? If I am a Chinese worker that has come from the countryside, as many do, to work in an auto parts plant in Wuhan or Xi'an, how do I know that the U.S. Government really does care about that?

I thank you very much, Secretary Clinton, for your outstanding public service for so many years.

At last year's hearing, you and I had an exchange about the role that trade unions played in the Arab Spring, especially in Tunisia and Egypt.

I follow on Senator Lautenberg's question on Libya.

I was presiding earlier today before the Senator from North Carolina. I listened to Senator Boxer talk about the importance of this Transportation bill, this highway bill, which I underscore. This week we have seen movement on extension of…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for up to 10 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. China Trade

Key reforms have yet to be completed, particularly in the area of information-sharing which continues, I think, to put our Nation at risk for homegrown terrorism and insider threats.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING…

I ask unanimous consent that a fellow in my office, Nicole Smith, be allowed the privilege of the floor for the remainder of the day. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________