it has been nearly a decade since Justice John Paul Stevens retired from the Supreme Court. His absence on the bench is perhaps felt more now than ever. Justice Stevens' nomination was the first of 18 Supreme Court nominees I have…

I know of no further debate on the bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate? Hearing none, the bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass? The bill (H.R. 2379) was passed.

I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. H.R. 2379

this may seem like just a perfunctory thing, but I want to speak about what we just did. The Senate passed legislation to permanently reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program. This is the sixth time I have worked to…

as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 2379. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R…

I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to a remarkable and unique person, Vermont Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Skoglund, who will soon be retiring after serving 25 years with the Vermont judiciary. Justice Skoglund is what we all…

I want to speak briefly about the courageous environmental activism of Alfred Brownell, a native of Liberia now living in exile in Boston. Mr. Brownell is an environmental and human rights lawyer and the executive director of Green…

today, I am honored to recognize the president of the University of Vermont, UVM, Thomas Sullivan, who is stepping down this June after 7 years as a remarkable leader for the university. Tom's tenure as the 26th president of the University…

Mr. president, Katherine Paterson is a Vermont author with more than 30 titles to her name and a list of awards that other writers could only dream of. She has a keenly special knack for introducing young readers to difficult topics about…

it is not often that I say the words ``Vermont'' and ``bow tie'' in the same sentence, except, of course, when discussing the famed Beau Ties Ltd. of Vermont. Beau Ties, Vermont's sole bow tie manufacturer, got its start as a mom-and-pop…

I ask unanimous consent to speak for 6 minutes regarding the Schumer-Leahy amendment. I realize this will put off the time slightly for the vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection? Without objection, it is so ordered.

I am sorry that the Republicans objected to the earlier legislation we brought up, which would have helped the Midwest. It had money in it. Of course, we are not, by any means, asking for billions more for Puerto Rico in this amendment. In…

I have a couple of matters I want to discuss. Today, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science is holding its annual hearing on the President's budget request, with the Department of Commerce, with…

I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to offer amendment No. 234 to the language proposed to be stricken and that the amendment be agreed to with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

while my friend is still here on the floor, he was absolutely correct when he pointed me out as saying that I have long supported disasters, whatever State is involved, whether it is a red State, blue State, or purple State. I believe in…

I thought it was exceptionally good news on Sunday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller did not implicate our President in a criminal conspiracy with Russia to attack our elections. The alternative, of course, would have been nothing short…

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

I ask unanimous consent that Owen Gomory from my office be granted floor privileges for the remainder of today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

The Americans in Puerto Rico do not have representation in this body. Vermont is probably as far away from Puerto Rico as just about any State, with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii. They do not have anybody to speak directly on their…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. H.R. 268

on January 16, more than 2 months ago, the House passed a supplemental appropriations bill, H.R. 268, which addressed the needs of all communities impacted by recent natural disasters. The House-passed disaster bill provided assistance to…

yesterday the inspector general of the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that it will review whether the White House has deliberately interfered with the timely distribution of hurricane funds to Puerto Rico. That is…

this is a debate worth happening. I appreciate the comments from my New England neighbor. It is an important matter for us to consider. President Trump declared a national emergency, citing a ``crisis'' at the southern border, but it has…

I ask unanimous consent that the time consumed by the quorum be equally divided between both sides. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

it has been more than 5 months since journalist and American resident Jamal Khashoggi was tortured and murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. More than 5 months since the Saudi Government initially denied it had anything to do…