If that does not happen, General, we will be calling you.

You have made a significant contribution to maintaining that environment of bipartisanship.

I think it is extremely important to have this hearing today for the reasons the chairman outlined.

On behalf of Chairman McCain, I would like to request unanimous consent to include written comments in the record from outside groups for up to 30 days after the conclusion of the hearing.

So this is not just about the benefits to the individual military personnel. This is about the overall viability of the health care system in the military?

While we await the full details of the department's proposals, there are a few immediate notable aspects of the request.

today I join with my colleagues Senators Cochran and Whitehouse in introducing the Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries, SKILLS, Act. Fifty years ago, when President Johnson urged Congress to enact what would become the…

Whatever we do, I think you will manage, which presents the interesting problem that we could be in a period of a steady accelerating but invisible decline until a crisis, and then the reckoning will be severe.

it is not the right time to pursue new sanctions legislation, and doing so could diminish our security, not enhance our security.

today I introduce with my colleague, Senator Grassley, the Prescribe a Book Act I thank Senators Markey, Stabenow, and Warren for joining us as original cosponsors of this bipartisan bill. Literacy skills are the foundation for success in…

I would like to talk about an amendment I filed along with my colleague Susan Collins of Maine to support the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the LIHEAP program. As the Senate continues to debate whether to bypass a longstanding…

I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment to call up my amendment No. 74. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as…

I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate that the Low-Income Home Energy…

I ask unanimous consent that Paulina Rippere, a fellow in my office, be granted the privilege of the floor for this session of the 114th Congress. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

this is a bipartisan amendment, which I am proud to sponsor with Senator Collins of Maine. It would express the sense of the Senate that we should fund LIHEAP, the Low Income Heating Assistance Program, at $4.7 billion. We have seen a…

I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 1 minute on the Reed-Collins amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

This has been an extraordinarily useful hearing.

General Mattis emphasized the need to have a clear understanding of what our political objectives are in the region.

Each of you emphasized the need to use all instruments of national power, not just military power, but also diplomacy and economic power.

General Scowcroft and Dr. Brzezinski talked about the importance of the region but also warned against the United States, in their words, 'owning it.'

I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation to authorize the building of the Keystone pipeline. It is time. Enough is enough. We agree, thousands of jobs would be created by this pipeline…

today the Senate is considering the reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, which I strongly support. As I have emphasized in the past, reauthorizing TRIA is vital. In addition to serving on the Banking Committee, I also…

today, I am pleased to reintroduce the Core Opportunity Resources for Equity and Excellence Act with my colleague Senator Brown. I would also like to thank Representative Fudge for introducing companion legislation in the House of…

the House has sent us a $42 billion year- long extension of several tax provisions known as tax extenders. This year-long extension is unpaid for, and while I will support this measure because several provisions in this bill need to be…

I wish to explain my opposition to the Fiscal Year 2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill. For months, I worked hard alongside Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, Ranking Member Richard Shelby, and our colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee…