The reduction of the workforce by attrition... could very well compromise the ability of the State Department to carry out its mission.

The budget that was submitted by the Trump administration would very seriously compromise the ability of the United States to maintain its global leadership on diplomacy.

We need to look at the NDAA bill in order to try to get those issues into statute.

How we handle the State authorization needs to be consistent with congressional input into the reorganization.

We do need your help.

Congress has a responsibility to authorize the programs at the State Department.

I thank my friend, the senior Senator from Tennessee, Mr. Alexander, for his eloquent comments about this great nomination. I also thank him again, as I have many times, for the outstanding relationship he developed with Japan that has…

for the Committee on Foreign Relations I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the RECORDS on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that…

We should be taking actions ourselves. We are finally in a place where maybe--it is not for sure, of course--we will be dealing with some things as Congress.

growth is really the easiest way to move away from the issues that we have.

I know there has been a lot of discussion about productivity, and that has been going on for some time.

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may…

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may…

I ask unanimous consent that the Secretary of the Senate be directed to request the return of the papers for S. 722 from the House of Representatives. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I have six requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They do not have the approval of the Democratic leader for the eighth consecutive legislative day; therefore, they will not be permitted to meet after 1 p.m…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand adjourned under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 5:45 p.m., adjourned until Monday, July 3, 2017, at 6 p.m. ____________________

I know of no further debate on the measure. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate? Hearing none, the question is on agreeing to the resolution. The resolution (S. Res. 210) was agreed to. (The resolution is printed in today's…

as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 210, submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The senior assistant legislative…

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may…

section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may…

I have always believed that it is important for Congress to exercise its constitutional role to authorize the use of force and that our country is better off when Congress clearly authorizes the wars we fight.

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll. The result was announced--yeas 100, nays 0…

No question. I thank the Senator for those comments. Our staffs have been remarkable, and the years of experience and knowledge they bring to this no doubt allowed us to do something so substantial in an amount of time, yet do so in a…

I thank all those involved in the message that is being sent. I support the amendment, and I urge a ``yes'' vote. Thank you. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question now occurs on agreeing to amendment No. 240, offered by the Senator from…

Then there will be a series of votes, with no comments made in advance of those votes; is that correct? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.