Speeches

Thank you to the Reagan National Defense Forum for honoring me this evening with the Peace Through Strength Award.  I have had the privilege of attending nearly every event since 2013, and have always found the discussions to be marked by... Read More

Madam President, two weeks ago, I urged my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to reject the partisan and fiscally irresponsible Republican tax proposal in the so-called Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. I asked them to remember that, when it comes to our... Read More

Mr. President, I rise to discuss the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.  After several months of negotiations, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have arrived at a completed conference agreement.  This will be... Read More

Mr. President, a few weeks ago, I traveled to South Korea to better understand the threat posed by North Korea. I would like to share my impressions from the trip and how I believe we should be positioning ourselves to better deal with this current... Read More

Mr. President, I rise in strong opposition to the Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2018. Let me say that consideration of this budget resolution seems surreal, not only because of the timing – coming, as it does, three weeks into the fiscal... Read More

Thank you, Mr. President. As we approach the final vote on the fiscal year 2018 National Defense Authorization Bill, I would like to make a few closing comments. When we began considering this bill last week, Senator McCain and I were interested in... Read More

Mr. President, I rise to discuss the fiscal year 2018 national defense authorization bill, which was passed unanimously out of the Armed Services Committee on July 10. First, I would like to acknowledge Chairman McCain, whose leadership on this... Read More

Mr. President, I rise today, along with so many of my colleagues, with regard to the DACA.  We are here to oppose President Trump’s unnecessary, political, and damaging decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program... Read More

Mr. President, I am truly dismayed by what we've seen in this chamber over the last couple of months with respect to the Senate Trumpcare bill. We are expecting to take a vote tomorrow on the motion to proceed.  But at this point, our Republican... Read More

Mr. President, I’d like to talk today about the ongoing efforts by Senate Republicans to take away health insurance for millions of Americans by repealing the Affordable Care Act.  I was here on the floor just a couple of weeks ago reading... Read More

Thank you so much for inviting me to speak today. This conference is both timely and opportune as we struggle to fully understand the problem of political warfare and how we should be postured to respond to this threat in our free and open democratic... Read More

Thank you, Chairman Collins.  As challenging as I know this year will be, I am thankful to have you as a partner to work through funding decisions for fiscal year 2018.  This is the fourth budget that we will develop together as Chair and... Read More

Madam President, I would like to first thank my colleague, Senator Manchin, for arranging this time to talk about the ongoing opioid epidemic across the country. I know that his home state of West Virginia – much like my home state of Rhode... Read More

Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the nomination of Dr. Heather A. Wilson to be the Secretary of the Air Force. The Secretary of the Air Force is an important and influential position within our national security structure.  As the head of... Read More

Mr. President, the Senate has decided on a purely partisan basis to resolve the impasse over Judge Gorsuch's nomination by invoking the "nuclear option."  For the first time in our history, nominees to the Supreme Court of the United States may... Read More

Mr. President, there are few moments in the life of a nation when the people are presented with a single choice that directly affects what equality before the law will mean for the next generation. The opportunity to grant a lifetime appointment to... Read More

Thank you, Senator Collins, for calling this important hearing today to provide the Maritime Administration, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and the D-O-T Inspector General with an opportunity to discuss their efforts to address sexual assault and... Read More

Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the deep and growing concerns about Russia’s interference in the U.S. 2016 presidential elections and the implications of Russia’s broader malign activities for our national security.  On... Read More

Thank you, Chairman Collins.  I want to commend you for your leadership of the THUD Subcommittee.  I know we both look forward to this committee and the work of this committee, and I thank you again for your leadership.  We at the... Read More

Mr. Reed: Mr. President, I rise in strong opposition to the nomination of Scott Pruitt to be the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. President Trump has made it clear that he wants to savage environmental protections, and his... Read More