What's so maddening about the sequester drama, just like the earlier fiscal cliff drama and the looming government shutdown drama, is that it is hopelessly beside the point. The path to fiscal sustainability is not merely cutting budgets…

The satisfaction I have that we've finally renewed the Violence Against Women Act is tempered by how hard it was to get the acceptance of two critically important provisions. Why should there be any question about respect for Native…

While Congress is dealing with this manufactured sequester crisis, we have a real climate crisis occurring right outside the window. There is clarity on what should be a bipartisan issue with the public. Seven out of 10 Americans believe…

The sequester drama that we are watching play out this week is exactly why I voted against the New Year's Day budget package. Two months ago, all of the forces were aligned to force a bigger agreement, but we set our sights too low. It…

As we lurch into another series of artificial crises surrounding budget sequestration, there is a bright spot this week. We will witness an amazing series of visits on Capitol Hill by members of the Garden Club of America. Celebrating…

The complexity that some people want is just going to add costs and water down the ability to deliver overall high quality service.

Seems kind of goofy, but that is the political process.

It is extraordinarily frustrating for me that we have spent all week avoiding opportunities to make progress on areas on which we agree to avoid or minimize the effects of the sequester meat axe and instead singled out, again, our federal…

Part of the air of unreality in Washington is the myth of our inability to contend with budget reductions and the threat of sequestration in stabilizing America's financing. No doubt the draconian hand of across-the-board cuts in every…

One of the few areas where Washington agrees with the general public is that our current path is not sustainable. It is not merely a case of spending too much or taxing too little, although we need to control spending and we must and will…

Since I was a high school student, I've watched the escalation of the war on drugs, especially marijuana. I slowly became aware of its widespread use. As a freshman legislator in Oregon 40 years ago, my opinion was set by a hog farmer from…

We continue to talk past one another. The issue isn't passing a budget or not passing a budget. The issue is whether or not we're going to take fundamental steps to reform the way that we spend money around here. The Republican budget of…

It was exciting to hear the President make climate change a major focus of his inaugural address, and appropriately so. Mr. Obama's first term provided stark evidence of the peril to the planet: record-breaking heat waves, drought…

I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy. My friend from Georgia completely misses the point. Mr. Holt pointed out that this being able to process this ground-based information is important to being able to fully utilize the information from…

Although I am not opposed, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition in order to yield it to my friend from New Jersey because there are important messages to be heard. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from…

I strongly support what is going on, and I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New Jersey to make sure that everybody from the affected area has an opportunity to be heard. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman…

I would offer the amendment on behalf of my colleague, Mr. Campbell, and myself. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 16, line 6, insert ``with respect to such funds''…

I deeply appreciate the hard work and the acceptance of the amendment. I look forward to moving forward with the passage of this, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the…

As the 112th Congress ends with a whimper, not a bang, not so much finished as worn out, I was prepared to come to the floor this morning and talk about some of the unfinished business that we kicked down the road with a proposal last…

The agreement we are expected to vote on, perhaps as early as this afternoon, has many commendable and important items. Unfortunately, too many are short term; much is left out; and most important, we are losing an opportunity for reform…

It's probably going to pass with overwhelming bipartisan support. So be it. I can only hope that, in that spirit of taking a risk on both sides of the aisle--and both parties and the administration--that the administration and the new…

This evening, we're expected to vote on an item that has many commendable and important items. Unfortunately, too many are of short duration, much is left out, and most importantly we're losing a real opportunity for reform. The SGR is…

Today, I voted against the Fiscal Year 2013 Intelligence Authorization Act. Despite keeping funding levels flat and capping personnel levels to that of Fiscal Year 2012, this authorization is not significantly different than the earlier…

Congress is here on New Year's Eve with the people they love: themselves, the special interests, and the policies of the past. The overhyped fiscal cliff may well be upon us, and we will find $600 billion of deficit reduction with tax…

This defense authorization legislation is a missed opportunity. Our Republican friends would have us approve this at a time when we're struggling with the long-term fiscal stability of the United States. We're set to pass a bill that…