I wish to thank the distinguished leader who has been so helpful in ensuring that we have a real debate. With my colleagues' indulgence, my understanding from the leader is we would have 15 minutes on each side at some point in the…

I am going to be very brief in terms of responding to Senator Feinstein, the distinguished chair. First of all, there is no question the chair of the committee is correct that this is a dangerous time. That is specifically why, at page 6…

I believe I control additional time. How much time does our side have remaining? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 39 minutes of general debate time remaining to the Senator from Oregon.

first, I strongly support your amendment, given how little most Members of Congress know about the actual impact of the law. The shorter extension period as envisioned by the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee makes a lot of…

It is fine. Through the Chair, 15 minutes with respect to our side reporting the amendment, 15 minutes on the other side, it will be voted on, and then we go to final passage.

just to respond to the points made by the distinguished chair of the committee--and, by the way, I think the chair's reference to being willing in the next intelligence authorization bill to work with those of us--and Senator Merkley has…

I thank Leader Reid for the honor of being able to open this morning's debate. I also wish to particularly identify with a point the leader made. There is an old saying that most of life is just showing up. I think what the American people…

I thank the Chair. I will speak out of our time in order to respond to a couple points. I also wish to commend my colleague Senator Merkley from Oregon for his excellent statement. He has been doing yeoman's work in terms of trying to…

For purpose of general debate, how much time remains on our side and how much time remains under the control of the distinguished chair of the committee? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The opponents have 140 minutes remaining; the…

I ask unanimous consent. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I do. The leader is being logical, and Heaven forbid that sometimes logic break out on some of these matters. I remember when we started out--and I joked that I had a full head of hair and rugged good looks--the majority leader and I used…

My colleague is asking a particularly important question because the Director of the National Security Agency, General Alexander, recently spoke at a large technology conference, and he said that with respect to communications from a good…

both sides are working to pass the intelligence authorization bill for 2013. I voted against this legislation when it was marked up in committee. I objected to it here on the floor last month. But I am able to support it at this time. The…

I rise today to introduce legislation which promotes innovation and the expansion of the digital economy. Every day, each and every American grows increasingly reliant on the Internet. We use it at work, at home at school, and on the go…

This ought to be a priority for good government. These abuses are completely out of hand.

I want to say a good word about Russ Sullivan.

Maybe we can persuade some of them to do a Conrad.

consistent with Senate standing orders and my policy of publishing in the Congressional Record a statement whenever I place a hold on legislation, I am announcing my intention to object to any unanimous consent request to proceed to and…

Oregon wanted to build the next step, and to face this kind of discrimination literally for doing a good job... does not make any sense.

Senator Grassley and I have introduced legislation that would open up the Medicare database so that the public, free of charge, could have that information.

What happens from this point on? There are a number of us who sit on both this committee and the Energy Committee.

I do not see how we improve, number one, the investment climate for the kinds of important programs you are talking about if we do not have a more permanent and level kind of playing field.

The Senate Finance Committee, earlier this year, I think made the correct call in terms of trying to start this debate.

I think it is going to be important to try to lay out some principles early on with respect to what we ought to be working for.

One of the things that I would offer is that the portfolio will shift in terms of mix, so as a practical matter I think it is great that we have natural gas and an expectation that the costs will be low for some period of time.