today I wish to honor six brave airmen with the North Carolina Air National Guard who died or were seriously injured while fighting South Dakota's White Draw Fire. Lt. Col. Paul Mikeal, Maj. Joseph McCormick, Maj. Ryan David, and Senior…

I come to the floor today to talk about our economy, the threat of the pending fiscal cliff, and the need to address the challenges we face. Two years ago last week, the Obama administration hailed the advent of the ``Summer of Economic…

I think that benefits all of us as we try to make good and informed decisions.

if we try to rush a quick fix on the issue of privacy, rather than very thoughtfully and carefully dealing with the issue, we could stifle the very important economic advantage that we have in the United States.

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Coburn), the Senator from Utah (Mr. Hatch), the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Kyl), the Senator from Alaska (Ms. Murkowski)…

I rise to express my growing concern as massive tax increases loom on the horizon, and yet the Senate has not taken a single vote to forestall what many are appropriately calling taxmageddon. Washington tends to be a place where people…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded and that I be allowed to speak as if in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Taxmageddon

Safety's got to be a top priority.

I call up amendment No. 2437. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from South Dakota [Mr. Thune] proposes an amendment numbered 2437.

Aviation is an important part of our U.S. economy.

in the years 1994 to 2003, the Congress appropriated over $36 billion in ad hoc or emergency assistance for farmers and ranchers across this country above and beyond the normal farm program payments. Let me say that again--$36 billion in a…

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To limit the amount of premium subsidy provided by the Federal…

It seems to me at least that the legislation would at least provide temporary relief from this until such time as you can work through the appropriate forum.

I ask unanimous consent to be able to respond to the comments of the Senator from Illinois. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

I thank the Senator from Oklahoma for his leadership on this issue, for yielding the time, and I appreciate everything he has done to bring S.J. Res. 37 to the floor of the Senate. As the father of two daughters, I want a cleaner, safer…

I think that, based on historically the way you have pegged that, as a percentage of GDP, it is about in the right place.

the wisdom of having the gains rate the same as the ordinary income rate, or treating capital gains as ordinary income.

Ironically, the point my colleague from New Hampshire made earlier and the statements made by the President's own Defense Secretary about what these cuts would mean just speak volumes. It is absolutely stunning when we look at the impact…

I would say to my colleague, the Senator from New Hampshire--because she mentioned that she and I both serve on the Budget Committee--that this perhaps could have been avoided had we passed a budget that dealt with title reform. The reason…

I ask unanimous consent that my Republican colleagues, Senators McCain and Ayotte, and myself be permitted to enter into a colloquy for up to 30 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that Justin Posey, an intern in Senator Paul's office, be granted the privilege of the floor during today's session of the Senate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

again I appreciate the leadership of the Senator from New Hampshire as a member of the Armed Services Committee on not only this issue of national security but also as a member of the Budget Committee, where we serve together. It is…

I come to the floor, along with my colleagues, Senators McCain and Ayotte, to talk about the significant uncertainty surrounding sequestration and its threat to our national security. The triggered reduction in spending is $1.2 trillion…

earlier today the majority leader and the majority whip came to the floor to decry and denounce, attack Republicans for what appeared to be literally everything bad that has happened in the world in the last several years, to the point you…