Speeches

Mr. President, today I have submitted a motion to instruct conferees on the National Defense Authorization Act regarding the critical importance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for the security of the United States, for our protection. I... Read More

Thank you, Chairman Collins. Secretary Chao, I look forward to your testimony today.  We have always had a very productive relationship with your Department, and I look forward to that relationship continuing under your leadership. Chairman... Read More

Mr. President, I rise today to express my concern about the continued deterioration of the situation in Yemen and to share my views about the resolution that is currently before us. The military conflict going on in Yemen has gone on for far too long... Read More

Madam President, when we passed the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, we did so in response to a financial crisis that shook the foundations of our economy and devastated so many of our hardworking constituents. For example, the Dow... Read More

Mr. President, last September, President Trump took it upon himself to create an economic, humanitarian, and political crisis by rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, or DACA, without proposing a serious solution for the... Read More

Madam President, as Republicans in both Chambers rush to conclude their secret negotiations on the final details of their tax bill, I want to make clear to my colleagues what should be obvious about this legislation. We may not yet know the results... Read More

Mr. President, I rise to discuss the Trump administration’s irresponsible plans to dismantle net neutrality. This is a very important and timely issue for Rhode Islanders. The Federal Communications Commission’s—the... Read More

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