But it is kind of like driving a Model T in some respects.

before I depart the floor, and while Senator Schumer and Senator Blumenthal are still here, I wish to add a point that is a personal observation of mine as a Senator; that is, first the Senator from New York is widely and properly regarded…

this is my 48th trip to the floor to remind Congress that it is time to wake up to the threat of climate change. I am joined by Senators Blumenthal and Schumer because 1 year ago today Hurricane Sandy struck our States with frightening…

I ask unanimous consent that Aaron Goldner and Danielle Schreiber, two fellows in my office, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of this Congress. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

Before I join the colloquy with Senators Blumenthal and Schumer, I have two bits of housekeeping.

I ask unanimous consent that at 5 p.m. today all postcloture time on the Griffin nomination be yielded back, and the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate; the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the…

So I ask my Republican friends, how is climate denial a winning strategy when 53 percent of your own young voters think it is ignorant, out of touch, or crazy? How is that looking ahead? We in Congress get elected to look ahead. We don't…

I join my colleague from Pennsylvania in expressing relief and optimism that, finally, it looks as though we are rid of the wasteful and useless government shutdown we have been put through for the past 2 weeks; that it looks as though we…

yesterday we heard very optimistic news about steering away from the brink of American default before it became too late. Majority leader Harry Reid came to the floor and gave very optimistic reports. Minority leader Mitch McConnell came…

a colleague recently described on this floor his experience flying in a private aircraft when a fire broke out in the cockpit of the plane. He observed that putting out the fire distracted the pilots from flying the aircraft and that they…

I ask unanimous consent to speak in morning business for up to 15 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. Climate Change

I am glad to join this debate, which throughout the afternoon has been peppered with the assertion that either Majority Leader Reid or the President or Democrats in general will not negotiate--that we will not negotiate. I remember when I…

I note that the President and Leader Reid have both indicated a very open willingness to negotiate on virtually anything. But in light of the difference the Presiding Officer pointed out on the floor a moment ago between good-faith…

My question was not whether the House voted on some, not all. I think the fact is that the House voted on nothing the Senate passed; they have done nothing but tee up political votes to send over to us.

Through the Chair, I inquire whether, in evaluating the relative activity of the Senate and the House in trying to bring this shutdown to a conclusion, the Senator would not concede that the Senate has repeatedly voted on House-passed…

I thank the distinguished Senator from South Dakota. I noticed he was on the floor during the remarks of the Presiding Officer, the Senator from Maine, a few moments ago. Having heard those remarks, I ask the Senator from South Dakota if…

I join my former attorney general colleague, Senator Heitkamp, in expressing all of our appreciation for what the Capitol Police did. We all know when that event transpired, our job was to go and hunker down, stay away from windows where…

let me thank the distinguished Senator from Mississippi for his remarks about these Honor Flight veterans. We just had a group come down from Rhode Island, including one gentleman who was 100 years old. It was so meaningful for them. In…

as the Senator from Wisconsin has so eloquently said, we are indeed nearing the brink of the self-imposed catastrophes of government shutdown or government default or both. Unless Speaker Boehner can find a way to restrain his rightwing…

While the panels are changing, I just wanted to emphasize the point that Mike Lewis was making very well to Senator Baucus' question.

I share his worry that if we go back to just a gas tax, we are putting ourselves on a glide slope that ends back in a bad place all over again.

I would urge you to be more energetic about looking for ways to support these local initiatives.

It is a metric that has no accountability to it.

So they are really serious about cleaning this up, and black carbon is a good place to work together internationally as well.

Thank you, Senator Carper and Senator Sessions, for hosting this hearing and for the terrific way that you are working together on this issue.