The Senator from Michigan is here. I would like to ask her how much time she would like me to yield to her.

we do have some serious differences of opinions between the two parties when it comes to our values and our priorities. We believe our budget should reflect this, and we are having a good debate. Those differences will be difficult enough…

we are now on the floor of the Senate with the budget, and I wish to start by thanking my counterpart, Senator Sessions, for all his work and his staff's work--and all our staff--to get us to this point this evening that we are debating…

I ask unanimous consent that staff be permitted to make technical and conforming changes to the resolution, if necessary, consistent with amendments adopted during Senate consideration, including calculating the associated change in the…

I ask unanimous consent that the use of calculators be permitted on the floor during consideration of the budget resolution. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that no amendments be in order for the remainder of today's consideration of S. Con. Res. 8. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that any time spent in quorum calls during consideration of S. Con. Res. 8 be equally divided. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 28, S. Con. Res. 8. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the concurrent resolution by…

I ask unanimous consent the following members of my Budget Committee staff be granted full floor access for the duration of the consideration of S. Con. Res. 8, John Righter and Mike Jones. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is…

if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent it adjourn under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 10:45 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 9 a.m.

I ask unanimous consent that Emily Sharp and Michael Branson, detailees to the Budget Committee, be granted floor privileges for the duration of the consideration of the budget resolution. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…

I ask unanimous consent that Ronald Dabrowski, a detailee with the Finance Committee, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of the 2013 calendar year. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 85, submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res. 85)…

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 84, submitted earlier today by Senator Menendez and others. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The bill clerk read as…

I ask unanimous consent that Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 67. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the resolution by…

VA cannot fix this problem alone.

I cannot help but wonder where additional staff will be placed.

We have to implement the Mental Health Care ACCESS Act. We need to meet the goal of hiring 1,600 new mental health care professionals.

It is really clear that VA and Congress have made some important strides toward addressing the invisible wounds of war but we have a lot more to do.

It is absolutely vital to us.

This revealed a complete breakdown in VA's mental health program.

I fear we are going to find ourselves back here again trying to fix the same problem.

I really appreciate the focus on providing timely access to health care. It is so important for our veterans, for our servicemembers, and for their families.

I wish to thank the Senator from California, the Senator from New York, and the Senator from Alaska, who was here just a short time ago expressing the same frustration. We are ready to go. We have a budget, and we want to debate it. We…