I, too, have been deeply concerned about the long-term trends of our failing to come forward with revenue to pay for America's priorities. I found the Bush tax cuts a disaster. I have repeatedly brought before my friends in Congress…

I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy. I am here to speak in support of the Customs bill that we will be facing later today. It represents significant progress over the version from earlier this summer that I opposed. Part of this progress…

Because of the composition of the Senate and Republican opposition, we couldn't pass those things when we were in charge. So we are going to do it through other mechanisms. This Customs bill does not prevent that. I strongly urge my…

This Sunday friends, family, and admirers of Kate McCarthy will gather in the shadow of Mount Hood that she loved. They will share stories of young Kate as a smart, free- spirited woman, educated at Portland's Reed College, working on…

There has been a great deal of discussion about trade agreements, but there is another important piece of legislation that deals with Customs. This is an often obscure element, but it makes a huge difference to be able to manage the…

One of my pleasures in public service is the opportunity to work with some extraordinarily motivated and talented staff. Nowhere in my career has it been more evident than here on Capitol Hill. The joy of working with smart, dedicated…

I come to the floor this morning barely able to talk. But not having much of a voice is common in Portland, Oregon, these days, as fans shouted themselves hoarse after the Portland Timbers' stunning victory over the Columbus Crew on…

I am inclined to yield 5 more minutes to my friend from Wisconsin because I strongly, strongly agree with the framework that he advanced. I have come to this floor repeatedly with a simple suggestion that we index the gas tax and move…

I have long championed the concept that trade done right requires strong environmental protections as well as enforcement of those commitments. Many of our most serious environmental challenges, from climate change to deforestation to…

The eyes of the world are on Paris as it recovers from one tragedy and when 150 world leaders gather to prevent another. They meet to secure a global agreement on climate change. Reliance on fossil fuels, especially coal, and wasteful…

My Republican friends, unlike the French who had the vision and courage not to scapegoat desperate Syrian refugees fleeing the barbarians that attacked them in Paris, this is a foolish attempt to thwart ISIS terrorists who won't wait 2…

Chuck Rosenberg, the acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, recently called the notion of smoking medical marijuana a joke. What is a joke is the job Rosenberg is doing as acting DEA administrator. He is an example of…