I want to make sure that you will support policies that keep the locus, keep the place, of Northwest electricity decisions in the Northwest.

Ms. Honorable clearly has the background, training and experience necessary to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

I must also add, with regard to grid security, I've participated in the Electric Sector Coordinating Committee.

Like Senator Landrieu I'm pleased to support Ms. Honorable's nomination.

I feel very strongly about. I essentially got my start in public service as Co-Director of the Oregon Gray Panthers.

The American people deserve an upgrade on that kind of approach. They deserve a bipartisan alternative.

It is important that we tackle this in a bipartisan way, because the reality is that natural gas, particularly because of what has happened in the Bakken, is advantage America.

Congress has a key role to play in ensuring that the journey that we have started...does not get derailed.

I fully share the Senator's concern and want to assure her as well as Tribal interests that the Congressional intent, as well as mine as chairman of the Finance Committee, is to expand rather than restrict the safe harbor provisions in…

The Senator is correct. I want to express my full support for the administrative guidance issued by the IRS in Rev. Proc. 2014- 35. I would also point out to the Senator that the bill requires under its ``Statutory Construction'' provision…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act and the Land and Water Conservation Fund

this month America celebrates the 50th anniversary of both the Wilderness Act and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. I am going to spend a few minutes today--and I believe I am going to be joined at various times by a number of…

I rise as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee to strongly support the Senate's passage of an important tax bill, H.R. 3043, the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014. This bill will improve the application of the Federal income…

In order to lead, our challenge is to guarantee that outdated energy policies do not pull America back into the pack.

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Jeffery Martin Baran, of Virginia, to be a Member of…

I ask unanimous consent to yield back all time on both sides. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Our committee--on a bipartisan basis--needs to be part of a robust conversation about how best to determine costs and benefits.

Our country--with a long tradition of innovation and entrepreneurship--has the opportunity to lead the way.

I think we are going to get the question with respect to, so we have the ACA, we have the Affordable Care Act, and it expands coverage. So, if we have the Affordable Care Act and it expands coverage, so how come we need this other deal…

The American taxpayer delivers $140 billion each year to subsidize retirement accounts, but still millions of Americans nearing retirement have little or nothing saved.

It is my sincere hope that the tradition of bipartisanship in retirement policy will continue and that the next retirement bill that comes out of this committee and becomes law will be known as Wyden/Hatch.

This program has come together because of the extraordinary leadership of Chairman Rockefeller.

It would cost the Federal Government more money.

Lately, however, I have become concerned that there is a political strategy by some in Congress to turn pension policy into just another partisan battleground.

That is one reason that I and others have proposed reforming Social Security to include a flat, universal benefit set at the poverty level that would go to all retirees regardless of income or labor force participation.