I have been privileged to be a Member of the Senate now in my 29th year. Never have I stood in the Senate and in any way impugned the integrity of any Senator to speak as she or he believes from their own heart about what is right. I have…

the Senate has before it the continuing resolution which is an absolutely essential piece of legislation to permit our Government to go forward. We are about to have a vote, I understand, at 4:45 in relation to that resolution. The…

I receive that with a great deal of disappointment because I felt, in this critical period of time as this operation in Baghdad is getting underway, the constructive recommendations to the President, as embraced in our resolution, should…

I certainly recall, over a period of 29 years, the importance of the continuing resolution and the greater utilization, regrettably, of the necessity for leaders on both sides to resort to that. But I would have to say to my good friend…

We are concerned that the fighting rages on throughout Iraq, and particularly in Baghdad. It is very important that the Senate should, as the greatest deliberative body--certainly in matters of war and peace--in a prompt way address the…

We had in our discussions, and Senator Collins joined in this discussion--that we could not conceive--and that I, this Senator from Virginia, could ever participate in a cutoff-of-funding in regards to this situation in Iraq. But back to…

I met with every divisional commander, General Casey, Corps Commander, and General Dempsey--we all talked together. And I said, ``In your professional opinion, if we were to bring in more American troops now, does it add considerably to…

today with a deep sense of sadness, I wish to speak in honor of a wonderful man, Jacob N. Perkins--a former staff assistant in my office, who passed away on February 5, 2007. Although ``Jake'' worked for me some time ago--in 1990 and…

Dear Leaders: The war in Iraq is the most pressing issue of our time. It urgently deserves the attention of the full Senate and a full debate on the Senate floor without delay. We respectfully advise you, our leaders, that we intend to…

Frankly, we have taken to heart what the President said when he addressed the Nation on January 10. His very words were: ``If there are those with ideas, we will consider them.'' We accept that invitation by our President and have tried in…

I rise to introduce the Green Buildings Act of 2007. This bill is intended to continue the hard work of our former colleague from Vermont, Senator Jim Jeffords, and would place an emphasis on energy efficient and healthy building…

They are joined. The plight of the miners and their families has been a subject that no Senator in the modern history of this Senate has fought harder for than the senior senator from West Virginia, and very often you have involved me and…

It is dated as of January 27, 2007. It says, ``Transition Iraq to Security Self-Reliance--Iraq Security Forces.'' It lays it out. This is what the American taxpayer has been expending--an enormous sum of money for 2 rac{1}{2} years to…

That resolution has been distorted and misunderstood in the debate thus far. That is one of the reasons I am so anxious to proceed with this debate. I want to make clear, because it was mentioned that perhaps these resolutions were brought…

Those mines have a great deal of comparability, those in Virginia and those in West Virginia.

I have been privileged to be here but a small fraction of the time that he has, 29 years here and well over 40 for my colleague from West Virginia, but in that period we have worked many times on behalf of coal miners.

clearly what is read is correct. But I assure you that I forcefully argue that ours is in support of the troops. There is no suggestion that one is less patriotic than the other, if I may say to my dear friend.

I feel confident that what we have put forth are recommendations--not orders to the President, not contravening the President's constitutional authority in any way, but they are the heartfelt thoughts of Senators as to how there could be…

I join my leader in the objection because I do hope we can work it out, that we do not have to resort to a bill status. Everybody knows what the rules are and how that would then involve the President in a bill status. This should be a…

You refer to the one commander you met. I wonder if the Senator would reference your trip in December and what others told you about the addition of United States forces. I think that is important for the Record.

about a week ago, I think it was on the 23rd, my colleagues, the Senator from Nebraska, Mr. Ben Nelson, and the Senator from Maine, Ms. Collins, and I, together with several cosponsors, put into the Record a resolution--I underline put…

I thank my colleague. In my trip in the October timeframe, I would see much the same expression from military and civilian. Our codel visited, and it was following my trip that I came back and said in a press conference, this situation is…

I thank my colleague. We should add an important reference to work done by the Baker-Hamilton commission. They have made similar findings. They mention a slight surge, but in my study of that one sentence in that report, I don't think they…

I am proud to follow and likewise indicate my unqualified support for General Petraeus, to wish him well, and I hope he succeeds. We had a thorough hearing in the Armed Services Committee. I wish to compliment our new chairman, Senator…

Senator Nelson of Nebraska and Senator Collins and I have worked for some time to put forward a resolution embracing the very serious, heartfelt sentiments of Senators with regard to the President's plan that he enunciated on January 10…