one of the formative parts of my life was being a student at Saint Michael's College in Vermont. It was especially so because of the people I met there. One of my most memorable classmates is Dr. Frederick Burkle. Skip Burkle was one who…

the Senate's final passage today of the bipartisan Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, after 3 years of difficult negotiations, reflects the true nature of compromise. I am glad that we have finally come to an…

in this promising time, there are no resources too great to contribute to groundbreaking medical research. Key discoveries, new technologies and techniques, and tremendous leaps in our knowledge and understanding about disease and human…

today the Senate is considering the nominations of Gary Katzmann of Massachusetts and Jennifer Choe Groves of Virginia to fill judicial vacancies on the U.S. Court of International Trade. It is a step in the right direction that the…

today the Senate is passing legislation to strengthen an important humanitarian innovation prize created by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, PTO. Since 2012, the Patents for Humanity Award has recognized selected patent holders who…

I may be dating myself when I say this, but I remember when Ruby Paone started work here as a fresh graduate from St. Andrews University. That was April of 1975, just a few months after I began my own tenure here in the Senate, and for…

last week, the Senate unanimously adopted a resolution to commemorate the 100th anniversary of a crucial milestone in the history of Ireland, the 1916 Easter Rising rebellion. As a son of Ireland through my father's ancestors, I am proud…

nearly 150 years ago, Congress determined that a fully functioning Supreme Court should consist of nine Justices. For more than 100 days, however, the Supreme Court has been unable to operate at full strength as a result of unprecedented…

all of us mourn the passing of a distinguished former Member of this body, Senator Bob Bennett of Utah, who died of an illness on May 4. I doubt that there were any in the Senate who did not truly like and admire Bob Bennett. His gentle…

on May 19, 2016, hundreds of guests flooded the Senate's Kennedy Caucus Room for the eleventh annual Taste of Vermont, an event that brings together over 60 businesses that showcase the best Vermont has to offer. From microbreweries to…

as the Senate continues to debate funding priorities for the American people in the coming year, I want to take a moment to recognize the importance of supporting our Nation's seniors. May is Older Americans Month. This is a time to…

soon the Senate will vote on legislation to reauthorize key elements of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. I supported this important law when it was first enacted nearly 10 years ago, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of this…

this week is National Police Week, and many of us have paused to thank our Nation's law enforcement officers for their important work. But it is not enough for us to simply pay tribute to these men and women. We must also provide them with…

since December of 2014, when the United States and Cuba ended 54 years of diplomatic isolation that had accomplished nothing good for the people of Cuba or the United States, there has been an explosion of engagement between our two…

today is the 62nd anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which reaffirmed our Nation's commitment to justice and equality by ending racial segregation in our public schools. The unanimous Court…

I want to speak in support of the Blunt- Murray-Graham-Leahy amendment, which provides $1.1 billion in emergency funding to combat the Zika virus. The map of the United States beside me beside me shows the Centers for Disease Control's…

hopefully this week the Senate will vote on legislation to reauthorize key elements of the Adam Walsh Act. I supported this important law when it was first enacted nearly 10 years ago, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of this…

it has been 5 weeks since the Senate last confirmed a judicial nominee. In that time, judicial vacancies have continued to increase. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership has repeatedly objected to unanimous consent motions made to…

Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.

I have often likened the counsel that Senators receive from their staff to the confidential advice a lawyer provides to a client. That is why it is so rare that, over the last 40 or so years, Ross Baker, a Distinguished professor at…

every year in May we commemorate National Police Week, a time to reflect upon the sacrifices made by the men and women who serve in law enforcement. In particular we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and died in the line of…

I am pleased that today the Senate will pass the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2017. By rejecting the poison pill riders that sidelined the appropriations process for much of last year, the Senate has…

two days ago, we recognized World IP Day, celebrating the profound contributions that artists and inventors make to our culture and beyond. The theme of this year's World IP Day was Digital Creativity: Culture Reimagined, and events around…

you don't have to look too far in Vermont to find any number of unique businesses. One such business is Border Air Ltd., led by its owner Cliff Coy. Cliff is the airport manager and unofficial ``aviation ambassador'' at the Franklin County…

each year, the Small Business Administration sets aside the first week of May to acknowledge small businesses that are doing extraordinary work and recognizes them during Small Business Week. In March, the SBA announced the slate of 2016…