I have long worked to pass legislation to bring additional transparency and accountability to the government. I do so again today by calling on all Senators to support the Death in Custody Reporting Act, a bill that has moved multiple…

the Freedom of Information Act is one of our Nation's most important laws. James Madison said the people ``must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives.'' For nearly 50 years, FOIA has given Americans a way to access government…

today, the Senate has acted to ensure that law school students can gain valuable experience providing legal assistance to inventors before the United States Patent and Trademark Office--USPTO. This legislation is a clear win-win: students…

Vermont is a farming State: dairy, livestock, vegetables or fruit, farms across Vermont are known for their innovative and sustainable approaches to farming and food production. The dairy industry in particular is known throughout Vermont…

I don't know of anybody seeking recognition. I ask unanimous consent that all time be yielded back. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. All time having been yielded back, the question is, Will the Senate advise and…

one of Vermont's longest-serving journalists, Sam Hemingway, recently retired after a distinguished 37- year career with the Burlington Free Press. His career at the paper spans a period of our State's history filled with interesting…

I will take just about a minute. I know we are waiting for others to come. I have heard some of the discussion on the floor and in the hallways about Thanksgiving. On Thursday, when I sat down with my family over Thanksgiving dinner, I…

while the distinguished Senate leader is still on the floor, I thank him for his comments on the immigration bill. I would note he was kind to talk about hundreds of hours. I may not have spent that, but a whole lot of other Senators…

I thank the distinguished majority leader. I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Next week, millions of families in this country will gather around a table to give thanks for the many blessings they have received. I know my family and I and our children and our grandchildren will. The President's actions will be…

what is the parliamentary situation? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate is in morning business until 2 p.m.

I ask unanimous consent that all time be yielded back. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, all time is yielded back. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Wendy Beetlestone, of Pennsylvania, to be…

I ask unanimous consent that all time be yielded back. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, all time is yielded back.

as we know, tonight President Obama is going to speak to the American people about reforming our broken immigration system. I had dinner with him last night, and we talked about this. I think it is generally expected that he will announce…

today the Senate will finally act to send legislation to the President's desk that will ensure that Vermonters and 1.5 million Americans across the country will continue to receive satellite television programming at the end of the year…

today we will vote on five outstanding judicial nominees to our Federal district courts. I thank the majority leader for filing for cloture on these nominees so we can clear the backlog that still remains on our executive calendar as we…

I appreciate the kind words of the majority leader. He and I have been friends for decades. He worked with me and was in touch with me throughout the recent effort on the NSA reform bill, the USA FREEDOM Act of 2014. He knew we had…

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The…

I thank the junior Senator from Utah who has worked so hard on this. It has been more than a year since Americans first learned that the government had been secretly sweeping up the telephone records of innocent Americans, regardless of…

Would the Republican leader yield for a question? The minority leader will not yield for a question, but I would note, based on his concerns about the bipartisan piece of legislation regarding the NSA and others and his concern about…

I will not object to the request, and I will yield the remainder of my time to the Senator from Texas. I am sorry the Senator from Georgia would not offer me the courtesy. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The…

We have confirmed three judges from Georgia and I want to compliment the two Senators from Georgia for their hard work, both in the Judiciary Committee and the White House. And in that, I am sorry they had to wait so long. On this side of…

Christ the King School of Burlington, VT, will soon celebrate its 75th anniversary, and it remains one of the most distinguished educational hubs in the Green Mountain State. Begun as a school to accommodate the overflow of students from…

Katherine Paterson is a treasure to Vermont. She is also a close friend to Marcelle and me. And today, at the age of 82, she continues to write with the grace and talent that has made her a two-time National Book Award winner and twice a…

obviously I am disappointed by tonight's vote, but I am not new to this fight. We have had six public hearings on this issue. We heard interesting testimony by the head of the NSA who talked about 50-some-odd terrorist activities that have…