In multiple hearings we have heard testimony from the Service Chiefs on some of the negative effects of sequestration-level budget caps.

We truly envision ourselves as the 9-1-1 force that you--that the American public, the American Congress, the taxpayer, they expect us to be most ready when everybody else is least ready.

Because nobody ever asks for less ISR.

Is it fair to assume--you know, we pray that this is not the case, but that the death of Master Sergeant Wheeler may not be the last death of an American servicemember in this campaign to defeat ISIL?

I think it's very much time that Congress revisit the question of this authorization and try to provide some underlying legal justification for the ongoing military action.

we do need to be careful and just kind of be mindful of not giving the impression that we're taking a side in a sectarian divide.

That's going to be my----

U.S. policy with respect to Israel has been to strongly support Israel as our ally, but also to support the notion of a Palestinian state.

it is pretty important that the United States not unwittingly sort of, you know, plant our feet on one side or the other of a sectarian divide?

Okay. But, Secretary Carter----

I do not really see a one-state solution working, but maybe I have not figured out how it can.

In your professional judgment, your notion that the primary objective is the defeat of ISIL, how long will that take?

In terms of kind of kinetic activities by the military, though, am I right that currently, it's Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, and then the deployment of troops to Cameroon?

I believe strongly Congress does need to do this.

I believe that a solution in Syria is impossible as long as Bashar al-Assad remains in charge.

I see no reason for the United States to deviate from that policy and every reason for the United States to continue to advocate it as best we possibly can.

Thank you, Madam President. I thank my colleague from Vermont who has done an able job as the ranking member on the Budget Committee. I rise today to talk about the budget resolution that we are considering on the floor of the Senate this…

Aren't we talking about an effort that is likely to be a multiyear effort, certainly well into the next administration?

I think that an AUMF is very important.

I rise to speak on behalf of the nomination of Loretta Lynch to be Attorney General of the United States. It is interesting that this is a week when we have been engaged in a dialogue about human trafficking, which is a serious and…

I am supporting Senator Collins' and Senator Nelson's Retirement Security Act of 2015.

To what degree is the significant amount of student loan debt an obstacle for young people?

This bill would aim to change that by allowing small businesses to pool together and create what are known as multiple-employer plans.

how do we incentivize them to invest their own R&D money in defense technologies?

In the event sequestration could be avoided--could each of you please describe in specifics how you plan to restore full-spectrum readiness and what the end-state looks like?