Russ Feingold

I opposed the amendments offered by Senators Cornyn and Boxer because they were a diversion from the real issue before us; namely, the future of our military involvement in Iraq. I disagreed with the language used in all of the ads…

Last week, as the administration was trying to convince us to stay the latest course in Iraq, it made very little mention of the fact that in every month this year, January through August, substantially more U.S. troops have died in Iraq…

I am today introducing the Teachers at the Table Act of 2007. This bill is the Senate companion to legislation introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year by Representative Carolyn McCarthy of New York and Representative…

This month millions of American schoolchildren are returning to classrooms to begin the new school year, making this a time of hope and possibilities. Students in my State of Wisconsin and around the country are meeting new teachers…

I strongly oppose coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization, and was pleased that the fiscal year 2008 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill included a provision prohibiting U.S. funds from going to any organization or program that…

Illegally traded small arms and light weapons are cheap and readily available in many areas of the world. These weapons contribute to instability and violence in developing regions, creating fertile breeding grounds for rogue actors…

If I could I wish to make one comment about the issue the Senator raised about Admiral McConnell. The last time we checked, there are 100 Senators elected to enact public policy. The notion that somebody who was confirmed by the Senate to…

In times of war, we don't give up our responsibility in the Senate to review and make laws. The notion that we simply defer this to the Director of National Intelligence and whatever he says is an abdication of our duties, especially in…

Last night, the Senate was able to successfully pass the reauthorization of a popular program that has reduced the number of uninsured children in our country by over 6 million. The Children's Health Insurance Program has helped lower the…

Yes, the purpose of the bundling reporting provision is to get as much disclosure as possible of bundling by lobbyists. In the provision, we have specifically asked the FEC to keep that purpose in mind as it promulgates regulations. The…

The bill before us contains, in section 542, a provision to prohibit Senators from attending parties to honor them at the national party conventions if those parties are paid for by lobbyists or organizations that employ or retain…

This is a proud day for the Senate. I certainly thank the Chair of the committee, the Senator from California, for all her guidance and hard work to make sure this legislation got to this point. I certainly thank the Presiding Officer, Mr…

I agree. The Commission should not allow evasion or game playing of any kind, by campaigns, candidates, or lobbyists, to avoid reporting the activities of lobbyists. Section 204, the bundled contributions reporting section, along with…

I was pleased to support the fiscal year 2008 Homeland Security appropriations bill. Our national security strategy needs to adapt in order to meet new and emerging threats while ensuring those in charge of protecting us have the resources…

In light of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, today I am introducing legislation to affirm Federal jurisdiction over the waters of the U.S. as Congress intended when it passed the Clean Water Act in 1972. I want to thank Senators…

As I said late last week, it has been 52 months since military operations began in Iraq. Approximately 3,613 Americans have died and 25,000 have been wounded. More than 4 million Iraqis have fled their homes, and tens of thousands, at a…

I voted against the Cornyn amendment because it significantly misrepresents the NIE because it makes assumptions about what may happen in Iraq that are speculative, and because it represents the same failed mindset that has resulted in the…

It has been 52 months since military operations began in Iraq. We have now been engaged in the Iraq war longer than we were in World War II. Approximately 3,600 Americans have died and 25,000 have been wounded. More than 4 million Iraqis…

Today I will introduce the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007. Just as its name suggests, the Arbitration Fairness Act is designed to return fairness to the arbitration system. This bill is not an anti-arbitration bill. If anything, it is…

I am deeply concerned that rather than changing course in Iraq, the President is merely rearranging the bureaucracy in the White House. The administration needs to better coordinate the U.S. Government's operations in Iraq and Afghanistan…

I wish to discuss the confirmation of Lieutenant General Dell Lee Dailey as the Coordinator in the State Department's Office of Counterterrorism. Lieutenant General Dailey has had a distinguished military career. There can be no question…

Last week this body passed energy legislation that finally sets the U.S. energy policy in a new, positive direction. In 2005, I opposed the Energy bill because it did not establish a sound and fiscally responsible energy policy. The…

Since joining this body in 1993, I have supported a number of initiatives to help the hard working men and women of this country, including increasing the minimum wage, supporting equal pay for America's workers, and promoting better trade…

Later this week, Somalia's fragile Transitional Federal Government, also known as the TFG, is expected to convene a National Reconciliation Conference originally intended to negotiate genuine power-sharing arrangements, establish a…

Over the last few weeks, the Senate has considered an issue that inspires strong feelings all around--the need for immigration reform. While the bill we were considering has many flaws, I am disappointed that some Members of this body…