The state of good repair of a railroad, Mr. Gardner, is that a safety concern for Amtrak operations?

Thank you, Chairman Collins, not only for holding this important hearing, but also for your extraordinary leadership, generosity, and kindness.

You made that limited amount of funding available yesterday. You decided that PTC was important, but not important enough to give more than $250 million to it.

I really think what we need to do is look instead of short funding, continue to work with Amtrak to find ways to be more innovative and find ways to increase and improve efficiency.

You could have made all of the appropriated funding available for PTC, if you wanted to.

Can you give us some examples about how critical this funding is to your operations?

But then yesterday, we were a bit disappointed when we found that DOT decided to change course and make available only the $250 million for PTC implementation.

The Administration's fiscal year 2019 budget proposed deep cuts to Amtrak funding and asked States to put more skin in the game.

If PTC is the critical issue and if safety is the most important issue, why did you not go ahead and make as much funding available as you thought could be absorbed?

We all are pleased that the unemployment rate is 3.9 percent, but behind that number is a labor participation rate that is falling.

We very much would like to see the plan promulgated pursuant to the Omnibus appropriations bill and then work with you, and the Department of the Navy, and the Coast Guard on getting it to fruition.

We are awfully proud to be the homeport of the NOAA Ship the Henry B. Bigelow in Newport.

Can you assure us that none of this data will be, can legally be used by law enforcement agencies including in deportation hearings?

He is enthusiastic about this joint effort, not a singular effort, but a joint effort.

I would like to address the nomination of Director Pompeo to be the next Secretary of State. I intend to vote against this nomination, and I would like to explain how I reached this conclusion. This was a difficult decision. I supported…

I rise today to join my colleagues and to associate myself with their remarks on the critically important issue of unlimited and unaccountable money in our political system. I would like to thank my colleague from Rhode Island, Senator…

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And also let me thank you and the Vice Chairman, Senator Durbin, for your support of $225 million to expand funding for the submarine industrial base supply chain.

this week we solemnly observe the 103rd anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Over a century ago, one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century began when the Young Turk leaders of the Ottoman Empire executed more than 200 prominent…

I come to the floor to continue my series of speeches about Russia's actions in the 2016 election and the threat that Russia poses for the 2018 midterm elections and our national security. Free, fair, and open elections are the foundation…

Just a final point. It is my understanding that in 26 States, the number one occupation is driving a vehicle of some kind.

This phenomenon, you know, it is not something that 10 years from now we will deal with it.

I applaud you for doing that.

I urge you with all deliberate speed to get those allocations published.

the budget also proposes to eliminate public housing capital grants and to starve public housing agencies' operating budgets.

This includes the elimination of critical infrastructure programs like Choice Neighborhoods, HOME, and the Community Development Block Grant.