last week we began debate on Senator Dodd's Wall Street reform legislation. This is the culmination of a lengthy dialogue on how best to rein in Wall Street's excesses, and bring about a new era of corporate responsibility. I have pushed…

I applaud you and the Department of Justice and the FBI for what they have done.

I think that is the appropriate thing to do. Trying to get people to sign away their rights for a mere $5,000 when the damage that they might have would far exceed that is clearly the wrong thing to do.

In 2004, Senator Kyl and I successfully enacted legislation, the Crime Victims' Rights Act, to provide the victims of violent crimes a set of procedural rights under Federal law.

I am concerned that this severe reduction could result in the dismantling of the RISS program and hamper our ability to share law enforcement information and technology across jurisdictions.

I believe that information sharing among law enforcement agencies plays a critical role in the fight against crime and terrorism.

Isn't it safe to say that there are many, many, many cases where a person has given a great deal of information about a crime they have committed after they have been given the Miranda warning?

I am pleased to join Senator Harkin in supporting the 'Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act,' and I thank him for scheduling this hearing today so that we can move this important civil rights legislation.

Well, we put extra money in the Recovery Act, we put $225 million. I had argued strongly for that.

I cannot stress enough how important it is for Congress to reauthorize VAWA to sustain, strengthen, and enhance our Nation's efforts to end violence against women.

We all know that the Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA, was a watershed piece of legislation.

Well, the idea of stopping it before it happens is so important.

I was proud to work on the original VAWA bill.

Now that we have settled all the problems of the world, up here are Senator Franken and Senator Klobuchar, Senator Sessions, and Senator Hatch.

You somehow feel you have to keep that hidden.

We have to prioritize our response to the high rates of violence experienced by Native American and immigrant women.

VAWA has done an exemplary job of recognizing, defining, allowing services to go specifically to those communities.

Senator Murray, a long-time supporter of VAWA, has introduced a bill I am proud to cosponsor.

You know, now is the time to look at where the needs might be, where there are some things that we should be looking at if we are going to be reauthorizing.

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the tremendous importance of the Violence Against Women Act in these challenging economic times.

I also find that in very rural areas, very small towns, we also have a problem where people do not even want to speak about being a victim of abuse.

I wish that had been available, those things had been available when I was State's attorney.

I advocated for increased funding of VAWA programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

I am honored once again to submit this resolution to the Senate commemorating our Nation's law enforcement officers and National Peace Officers Memorial Day. The Senate's official recognition of National Peace Officers Memorial Day and…

I congratulate the Senate for enacting the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act, H.R. 3714, a bill to strengthen and protect press freedoms around the world. I am proud to cosponsor the Senate companion to this bill, S. 1739. I…