I actually come to the Senate floor to talk about the urgent need to help make college more affordable for American families. Earlier this year, I launched a comment form on my Web site encouraging people to share their struggles to afford…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. College Affordability

I come to the Senate floor to once again urge my Republican colleagues to do what they are elected to do: listen to their constituents and give Judge Garland the fair consideration he deserves. As some of my colleagues have already noted…

the bill my colleague from Nebraska is asking to bring to the floor falls far short of closing the wage gap. I want to speak for a few minutes about why. At the end of my remarks, I have a unanimous consent request. If we really want to…

I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Washington. Unanimous Consent Request--S. 862

we are 103 days into 2016, and on Equal Pay Day, that number takes on significant, unfortunate meaning. Women have to work 103 extra days to match what men earned last year. That is unacceptable. Workers should be paid fairly for the work…

I wish to pay tribute to my constituent LTC Edward P. ``Ned'' Ash for his exemplary dedication to duty and service to the U.S. Army and to the United States of America. Lieutenant Colonel Ash will retire this summer after more than two…

This new law does turn over more decisionmaking power to States and districts, making collaboration even more important than ever.

The investments that we make here in this subcommittee really help keep our families and our communities healthy...

Thank you. I want to go back and ask Dr. Koroshetz a question on the big data.

Very good. We hear a lot about big data challenges facing researchers, and perhaps nowhere is that more relevant than with the massive amounts of data that the BRAIN Initiative is now generating.

I have often said when our nation sends men and women to war we commit to taking care of them when they return home. We also promise them important legal protections to allow them to focus on their mission and in recognition that while…

While we have seen 72 straight months of job growth, and unemployment has fallen 5 percent, wages have only risen slightly in the past year, and 8 million jobseekers cannot find work.

studies have shown that a $1 Federal investment has a $27 return.

I was actually really pleased that your budget includes a significant increase for the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program.

We not only want to have a seat at the table to make sure that trade deals are fair and strong...

At the heart of these efforts is our commitment to end veteran homelessness.

I appreciate the budget's focus on these issues as well as the Secretary's leadership in those areas.

When will we start to see some of those grants actually being announced?

I believe the only way to create sustainable economic growth is from the middle out, not from the top down.

I believe we should do both, because they would benefit working families.

I was really pleased that Chairman Blunt and I were able to fund the new apprenticeship grant program in the 2016 appropriation bill.

I appreciate that. I want to keep working with you on that.

I know Chairman Blunt would like to work on this bill in a bipartisan manner as well.

I am really pleased that there has been a part of good progress on improving employment rates for our veterans.