the Highway Trust Fund is a vital resource for States to tackle much-needed transportation projects. But right now that trust fund is running on fumes. States from Vermont to California and many in between are rethinking their plans for…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 1, 2014, at 10 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business meeting. The…

I ask unanimous consent that the time until 1:45 p.m. be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Highway Trust Fund

I would like to speak about the excellent nominee we are considering to be U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of Washington, Stan Bastian. In my home State of Washington we have a bipartisan judicial selection process that allows…

I thank the Senator from Minnesota for her really important statement. I come here today to join her and talk about this one small idea that stands for a huge difference in the lives of all of our constituents and, as she pointed out, for…

The number of homeless students in America's public schools has increased 72 percent since the great recession.

And I'd be remiss if I did not start out by thanking the National Guard on behalf of the communities in my State, in the aftermath of the Oso mudslide, the tremendous outpouring of support from the National Guard.

Although homeless students are eligible to be served under Title I, the Department of Education's guidance has actually made it challenging for school districts to effectively serve these vulnerable children.

Do you think it's patently unfair and illogical that whistleblowers in different industries get treated differently just because Congress hasn't been able to act to raise the protections afforded to everyone?

I have legislation, the Protecting America's Worker Act, that deals with this, and I hope that we can really look at updating these laws that need to be updated.

we owe it to those who have died or been injured to allow the voices of whistleblowers to be heard and protected.

the OSH Act itself has not been updated since 1970, and the vast majority of whistleblowers don't have the most up-to-date protections.

thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony to your Subcommittee.

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The remarks of Mrs. Murray pertaining to the introduction of S. 2243 are printed in today's…

I come to the floor today to introduce the Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act. This is a bill that will make critical improvements to how we support our ill and injured veterans and their caregivers. I am especially…

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from Rhode Island. The Senate will be in order.

last October families and communities across our country were forced to endure a completely unnecessary government shutdown. Coming after years of budget uncertainty and constant crises, the shutdown hurt our workers and threatened our…

It's time for us to move on this, and if the framework is the right solution, as your budget request suggests, then we must know that the technology is proven.

And this now concludes the last hearing of this subcommittee that we will hold this year. Thank you very much.

We need to make sure that people are safe, whether on the train or near the tracks.

I think we can all agree the standard needs to be updated.

You responded exactly like that, and I just really commend you and your entire department.

I want to just thank you personally for the quick release of emergency relief funds for the Oso mud slide in my State.

We got to, therefore, through planning, preparation, and preparedness, long before a response, do whatever it takes in America to prevent this from ever happening anywhere in our communities.

I have been clear in my conversations with you that I expect DOE to meet these legal obligations.