I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 12, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The Committee…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 12, 2011, at 2:15 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on foreign…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 12, 2011, directly after the business meeting scheduled for 2:15 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

as every one of our colleagues knows, so much of what we do depends on the hard work and commitment of the dedicated staffers who toil behind the scenes on behalf of us and the constituents we represent. I wish to take a few minutes to…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for 12 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Tribute to Alex Glass

I ask unanimous consent that Eli Zupnick, Alex Glass, Paula Burg, Matt McAlvanah, Moire Duggan, Shawn Bills, Adam Goodwin, Zach Mallove, Lauren Overman, and Evan Schatz, members of my staff, be granted the privilege of the floor for the…

I rise today in support of H.R. 2646, as amended, the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011. I urge our colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, which would allow for new construction projects in five…

I rise today to address the Department of Veterans Affairs' role in S. 633, the Small Business Contracting Fraud Prevention Act of 2011. As introduced, S. 633 contains a provision that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs…

Spending cuts alone are not going to put Americans back to work or put our budget back in balance.

The American people are looking at this committee with great optimism but also with real skepticism.

We have heard over and over and over again about the need to review and reduce redundant, wasteful, inefficient government spending.

I think we need to be focused on job creation and long-term debt reduction.

We must balance the budget with a balanced approach that includes job creation, revenue increases, and smart spending cuts.

We need to find a way to come together around a bipartisan deal.

I think most people do agree that such high tax rates make the United States a less attractive place in which to do business.

I am willing to make tough compromises. I have said that if the distance between an opponent and me is five steps, I am willing to take three, as long as the opponent takes the other two.

This is infuriating for average taxpayers who are dutifully paying their taxes.

It is going to take honesty from every member of this committee, honesty with one another and honesty with the American people.

We have reduced and eliminated programs that benefit students, we have cut support for police officers on the street.

Democrats have made clear that we are prepared to do that.

Markets, rating agencies, and businesses across the country are watching closely to see if Congress can solve this problem.

The consequences of failure are unacceptable.

But I also really believe that we have to take steps to strengthen that economic recovery and address the jobs crisis that we are seeing today.

We have to abandon our nostalgia for the Tax Reform Act of 1986.

They want to know if we can make a real dent in the deficit so their children are able to compete and succeed.