this is not as much an immediate problem, but an intermediate problem and needs to have phase-ins.

the idea that we are ever going to go back to a sustainable fiscal circumstance with anything around the 18.6 or even 19 percent is just not in the realm of reality

I would rather it get lower than that, but it is in the right direction.

deficit reduction needs to be done in a balanced way, and includes a responsible mix of spending cuts and new revenue from those who can afford it the most.

I do believe an investment component in a budget is a responsible and reasonable thing.

As the President said, the imperative to secure the nation must not come at the sacrifice of our laws or ideals.

One of the reasons why we need to make sure sequestration----

I would also make mention of the fact, very briefly, since we don't get this many opportunities in front of this kind of public audience, to recognize an action that Senator Mikulski and I took last Congress that many of you joined with us…

It's my honor to introduce John Brennan as the President's nominee to be the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

as we get started on this next Congress-- and I wish to congratulate the Presiding Officer for joining this Chamber. As someone who has had the opportunity to preside during my first 2 years in the Senate, I commend the Presiding Officer…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on December 20, 2012, in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 20, 2012, at 9 a.m., to hold a hearing entitled, ``Benghazi: The Attacks and the Lessons Learned.'' The…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 20, 2012, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 20, 2012. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on finance

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs' Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 20, 2012, at 11 a.m…

I rise to speak about a subject which I know I and the Presiding Officer and a number of our colleagues have spent an enormous amount of time on; that is, the challenges of our fiscal circumstances. Before I start, I wish to join with so…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Daniel Inouye

I will take a couple of brief moments. First, let me thank my friend, the Senator from Illinois. No one has spent more time and also, candidly, taken a more courageous position in these discussions around avoiding this fiscal cliff. For…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The remarks of Mr. Warner pertaining to the introduction of S. 3635 are printed in todays Record under…

I rise today to join my colleague and friend, the Senator from Delaware, Chris Coons, in introducing legislation that would make voting faster and more accessible to all voters. Here we are, barely a week after a historic election in 2012…

We are clearly unique in terms of the number of community-based banks.

Are we also making sure that the kind of unique aspect of our regional banks are getting their voices heard?

But as we know, what oftentimes happens with regulators is something that is legally applied for a big bank up here, by default becomes kind of best practice standards and trickles down then oftentimes into very small institutions that…

I think that if it ends up floating into best practices, we need to consider, obviously, plus with a large economy, but lots of regional economies that may or may not track national data.

first of all, I rise today to address the important legislation pending before this body, S. 3414, the Cybersecurity Act of 2012. I followed this debate, and I want to particularly compliment Senator Lieberman, Senator Collins, Senator…