As the author of the National Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund, I was very pleased to see that your Housing Commission recommended retention of these two entities in a reformed housing system.

there is a whole cohort, a whole generation of Americans that have extraordinary debt from their college education

first, let me commend the Senator from Illinois for a very thoughtful statement about the pending appropriations bill, particularly with respect to the funding of the Department of Defense. I wish to spend a moment to talk about another…

I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 13, 2013, to conduct a hearing entitled ``876-SCAM: Jamaican Phone Fraud Targeting Seniors.'' The Committee will…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 13, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Costs and Impacts of Crisis…

Now is the time? Well, in that case, let me go ahead and speak. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island is recognized.

I believe the Senator is absolutely correct. There is no time extension. One could argue that as this CR runs out maybe this provision would run out. But the intent of the bill is clearly that there is no money to be expended for any…

I thank the Senator from Oklahoma, and I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.

Let me say, I think the Senator's comments are accurate in that because the CR terminates on September 30, then because it terminates, the CR, this language might go away. But the clear language here is not a--and I think that is the point…

If I could reclaim the time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.

I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Personnel of the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 13, 2013, at 10 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 13, 2013, at 10 a.m. in room SR-418 of the Russell Senate office building to conduct a hearing entitled ``VA…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on March 13, 2013, at 10:30 a.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``We…

Well, I thank the Senator for bringing that to my attention because one point I would make--and I think Senator Inhofe does want to engage also--but one point I would make is that in this EPA rulemaking process there is a requirement to…

I believe I still have the time. Let me make one point. This is a complicated rule that has tried to balance various equities--environmental protection, protecting the navigable waters of the United States, recognizing small farms or farms…

if we are still on the Inhofe amendment, is there still an opportunity to speak on the amendment before a vote is called or is the Senator asking for a vote immediately?

Senator Inhofe is proposing a very sweeping amendment that would affect a rule the EPA has developed over the normal rulemaking process, with notice and comments over many, many, many months. It is scheduled to go into effect in May of…

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to rise in support of this proposed legislation before us today. I have been sitting here, listening to the arguments of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and I've heard conflicting…

Is the Senator asking for a vote immediately or is there still an opportunity to speak?

I would like to, at the appropriate moment, be recognized to speak, respectfully, against the Senator's amendment.

I appreciate very much that clarification. But let me retain my time and then yield to the Senator from California.

I rise to speak today in opposition to the Cruz amendment, which would prohibit any funding in the continuing resolution from being used to carry out the goals of the Affordable Care Act. The broad scope of this amendment clearly indicates…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 13, 2013, at 10 a.m., to hold a hearing entitled, ``Strategic Counterterrorism: Meeting Current and Emerging…

today I introduce the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act along with Senators Whitehouse, Cardin, Klobuchar, Franken, Warren, and Cowan. In December 1989, Liberia became engulfed in a devastating 7-year civil war, which killed over…

you function really in a way to make sure that there is a level playing field, so that traditional banking institutions, regulated institutions, are not under the competitive pressure of unregulated entities