I understand there are three bills at the desk due for a second reading. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the bills by title for the second time. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 1350) to provide a short-term…

In order to place the bills on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to further proceedings en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The bills will be placed on the calendar. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that my amendment No. 1237 be modified with the changes at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is so modified. The amendment, as modified, is as…

I would be interested to know how that is managed because that is a potential that is sitting out there for individuals' private information.

I have a concern. It is not about trade. Quite frankly, trade is one of the things we have done as a nation all along. We were free traders before we were a nation. One of the grievances we had in the Declaration of Independence was the…

I know this is hypothetical, but you are wading into territory that has serious long term implications for our economy and for a lot of people that want to start small businesses, and I would tell you to tread carefully.

My concern is this creates this artificial wall that actually diminishes the quality of our businesses, diminishes the incentive to start new franchises, and puts this fear into franchisors that I cannot really engage with the quality…

This has been pending for 10 months. Do you know when this decision is going to be made by the Board?

We do not know, 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years?

Correct, but what do they do with it? What limitations do they have with that information?

I do have some very serious concerns on the shift and the franchise rules as well, because of the way the definition is sitting out there.

It is very, very important especially in our economy.

The concern is you were saying so much has changed in the business world over the last 30 years that we need to return to a rule that we had 30 years ago to catch up with what has happened in the last 30 years.

My time is up. There has not been an economic study on the impact of this?

Right, you are asking for the old standard.

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Debt, Defense, and Directives and the Work Ahead

it is my honor to represent my family, my neighbors, and the millions of people in my very diverse State of Oklahoma. I am an ordinary Oklahoman. I do not come from a prominent political family or from any kind of political machine. My…

this is a great bill in many ways. There is a tremendous need. I have family members who are police officers, actually, in small, rural police forces. I have staff members who are former police officers. I understand the situation very…

Thank you. Keep going on that. You all are doing some great work on raising funds and raising awareness and staying engaged in this, and we appreciate it, and we will continue to partner and try to help in what we can do as well.

It is ironic that we have distributed around the world this concept of freedom of religion and disconnect between government and faith, and to say that government does not oppose faith, but now like we are afraid of faith.

Let me ask a general question, a philosophical question.

This is not to belittle them at all, so I am not going to just pick on somebody that is not here.

I watched my grandmother, and we have all walked through this. My mom currently has Parkinson's.

As much as we can use current technologies, and allow the public sector to take the lead on that.

I respectfully suggest that supporting the President's budget request is a very good place to start.