I would like to briefly recognize the service of retiring Senator David Vitter. Senator Vitter has served the people of Louisiana in Congress since 1999, through the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, across three different administrations…

earlier today we heard a moving speech by the Democratic leader and my longtime friend, Harry Reid. He spoke of his life and his time here. An amateur boxer turned police officer, turned lawyer, turned majority leader, that is the…

it is becoming too common a theme that the U.S. Senate, in the closing days of session, rushes to consider a conferenced defense authorization bill. Earlier this year, we considered one of the largest defense authorization bills in…

history is dotted with the stories of trailblazers. People who shape the public discourse at a pivotal moment in time or change the direction of the debate. One of those trailblazers is Barbara Mikulskim, the longest serving woman in…

I enjoy calling you by that title. I hope you do, too--because you know that you could easily hold that title as President of this body or President of the United States--you have shown your qualifications for either one. But let me speak…

today, the Senate will vote on significant legislation--a bill that aims to make it easier for innovative medical treatments to be approved, while investing over $6 billion in medical research and combating the opioid crisis. The bill also…

I thank the distinguished Presiding Officer, the Senator from Kansas. An editorial this morning in the New York Times is entitled: ``Why Does Donald Trump Lie About Voting Fraud?'' This is the editorial of which I speak. That is a question…

I thank the distinguished senior Senator from Texas. Senator Cornyn and I have had the privilege of being prosecutors, he as an attorney general and I served as the State's attorney. I think you get a special view of what is needed. I have…

on another subject, each morning in this Chamber, we pledge allegiance to our flag. We end by declaring that we are ``one Nation under God with liberty and justice for all.'' I believe in those words, but it is not enough just to say the…

I appreciate the work of my colleague, and I am glad to work with him on this. ____________________

on another matter, I have noted for months, actually for years, in the lead-up to the November 8 election, that congressional Republicans spent millions of taxpayers' dollars to air their unsubstantiated concerns about corruption at the…

I see the distinguished Senator from Arkansas on the floor. I suggest we go to him next, but I ask unanimous consent that I be recognized when he finishes his comments. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so…

first, I should note how much I agree with the senior Senator from New Hampshire and her comments about the appropriations process. I mentioned on the floor yesterday that in the Appropriations Committee, we reported 12 bills, including…

I do not see anybody else seeking recognition, but let me just say just a little bit more on these issues. Yesterday I commended my Republican colleague, Senator McCain. He complained about the decision of his own party to do away with…

today, the Senate reiterates its commitment to our Nation's law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders. Forty years ago, we created the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, PSOB, to support first responders who…

Vermonters understand the value of hard work and perseverance, and we take pride in passing those values from generation to generation. Our communities thrive on family-owned businesses built on these values. They form the roots of success…

for decades people around the world have witnessed seemingly intractable conflict in the Middle East, and those who live there have suffered through generations of violence. While the peace sought for that region has been elusive…

for the past 2 years, the Republican Party has enjoyed solid majorities in both the House and Senate. They control the schedule and they control the process. They can decide which legislation to call up for debate, and frankly, for all…

I ask unanimous consent to continue in morning business for 10 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

everybody, whether we supported Donald Trump or not--and, obviously, I did not--wants to give any President a chance to bring this country together. Throughout the country, during this campaign, we have become terribly divided. Even in my…

while we are on the subject of the President-elect, he has indicated some of the appointments he will make. Some, of course, will require advice and consent by this body, and I hope we will do that, even though this body has refused to…

as a longtime member of the Appropriations Committee, I strongly believe that we should have regular, yearlong appropriations, not continuing resolutions. I would like to remind my friend from Arizona that, by tradition, appropriations…

earlier this summer, GEN Gordon Sullivan, a man who has dedicated his life to caring for and developing world-class leaders, retired from his role as chairman of the Norwich University Board of Trustees, a position he held for 13 years. At…

yesterday President Obama nominated Jeffrey DeLaurentis to be U.S. Ambassador to Cuba. If confirmed, Mr. DeLaurentis would be the first U.S. Ambassador in Havana in more than half a century. I have known Jeff DeLaurentis since he became…

on H.R. 5578 we take an important step forward for victims of crime by establishing key protections for survivors of sexual assault in our criminal justice system. I was proud to work with Senator Shaheen on this legislation when it passed…