mr. reed: i have the amendment, yes. mrs. boxer: and i need to say here, please, colleagues, this is not kind of extension of time. this says "no funds made available under this act shall be used to implement or enforce with respect to any farm" and it goes through "the spill prevention control and countermeasure rule." this is a prohibition on e.p.a. implementing rule, am i correct? mr. reed: i believe the senator is absolutely correct. it certainly -- there's no time extension. one could argue as this c.r. runs out, maybe this provision would run out, but the intent of the bill is clearly that there is no money to be expended for any implementation against any farm -- mrs. boxer: exactly. mr. reed: and that's the language of the bill. mrs. boxer: i would to ask my colleague a couple of other questions. farms are exempted if they store less than 1,320 gallons of oil above ground or less than 42,000 gallons underground. that's the rule. is my colleague aware that have? mr. reed: well, i thank the senator for bringing that to

mr. reed: could i ask -- ms. stabenow: if we might ask through the chair if we might have a few more moments? mrs. murray: mr. president, i'm happy to yield more time. i really appreciate both senators talking about one of the really important aspects of our budget that is so critical in terms of investing in jobs and the economy, which the american public knows and understands is the biggest challenge facing all of us today. and you don't do that with the promise of just tax cuts for the wealthy. we know trickle down doesn't work. we all saw it, what happened in 2001 to 2008 when we gave away the tax cuts, and here we are today now having to deal with the deficit. we all remember what happened during the clinton administration when we had a balanced package that both had investments and had responsible revenue. and what happened in that decade when our economy rebounded and we got to a surplus and people felt strong again. so that's what our budget is based on. and i happened i would be happy to yield additional

mr. reed: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from rhode island. mr. reed: thank you very much, mr. president. let me commend the senator from illinois for his very thoughtful statement about the pending appropriations bill particularly with respect to funding at the department of defense. i would like to spend a moment to talk about another looming issue that's beyond the appropriations rapidly approaching. in june of last year as we commemorated the 40th anniversary of legislation to establish the pell grant program, we narrowly averted a doubling of the interest rate on need-based student loans. back in january of 2012, congressman courtney and i introduced legislation to permanently extend the 3.4% interest rate that has helped make college loans more affordable for millions of students across the country. but my colleagues on the other side of the aisle instead voted for a budget that effectively called for the doubling of the rate. at a time when students are struggling. and i will point out some of the difficulties we face. at a time that college

unfortunately for mr. reed, he doesn't have the goods to back up his claim. over the last 30 some odd years there have been quite a few studies done on the outcomes of same-sex parenting. a voluminous amount in fact. >> but i want to talk about the big issue of gay marriage. >> reporter: but is the research enclosure enough for conservative activist ralph reed to make this statement on nbc's "meet the press." >> the verdict of social science is overwhelming and irrefutable, and that is without regard to straight or gay, that the enduring, loving, intact, biological mother and father is best for children and it's not even a close call. >> if the overwhelming evidence seems to indicate the exact opposite, which is same-sex parents have the same -- there's no difference between same-sex parents and opposite-sex parents. >> reporter: dean and nick ladani points out that all of the studies done show no difference in child outcome based on sexual orientation of the parents. the studies find the most important factors are a parent's love, emotional and economic secu

mr. reed: thank you, madam president. madam president, i rise to speak today in opposition to the cruz amendment which would prohibit any funding in the continuing resolution from being used to carry out the goals of the affordable care act. the broad scope of this amendment clearly indicates that anything anticipated under the affordable care act would be subject to defunding and that's a broad category of activities. in fact, we've already had the affordable care act producing demonstrable and positive results in my state of rhode island and those results could be eliminated or reversed. for example, there are protections existing today because of the affordable care act for children with preexisting conditions to ensure they're no longer denied coverage. and there are over 15,000 rhode island children who have a preexisting condition that could have been dropped from insurance coverage prior to the enactment of the affordable care act. their parents and other adults, approximately 200,000 rhode island adults, also live

it reeds in part, mrs. gratts was terminated immediately and we are fully corporating with the authorities in this case. >> police don't think any children ingested it on friday but the sergeant says they are looking into whether this happened before and they're parents to come forward with any information. or the live in morgan hill. , channel 2 news. >>> a meeting underway right now for parents and staff a pleasantton preschool stunned by allegations of a abuse by a teacher. 24-year-old ann yes la konkra. she allegedly used masking tape to restrain a two-year-old who didn't want to take a nap. one of the stap members who saw cell phone picture was the girl's mother. >> children are made of the image of god and deserve to be respected. this is an incident we are greatly grieve other. >> police are investigating only charges. >>> police at the city college of san francisco are looking for a man why tack woman at locker room shower. officers posted fliers around the ocean campus today. authorities say someon

mr. reed: thank you, mr. speaker. and thank you, mr. chairman, for the opportunity to rise in support for this proposal -- proposed legislation before us today. you know, i'm standing here, sitting here, listening to the arguments of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and i hear conflicting messages. i hear that this is an irrelevant piece of legislation, it's not necessary because no one's requesting a waiver at h.h.s., the administration -- and h.h.s., the administration has not engaged in a policy that allows waivers to occur. yet in the same argument my colleagues on the other side of the aisle say, but many republican governors are asking for waivers from states and going forward. the point is, this needs to be clarified. this needs to be firmly stated in our record and in the laws of the land that tanif requires a work requirement for our welfare program. i'm a firm believer in the work requirements as they empower our unemployed, our underemployed, the folks that need it the most, to have the skill set and the resources

reed. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i want to thank you for your extraordinary service. let me begin by asking this question of ask -- about afghanistan. recently, president karzai -- is that -- does that affect the short or long run plans to avoid special operations as part of our withdrawal? is it something you can cope with? would interfere hermetically with your operations -- interfere dramatically? >> that issue is being worked right now. it is not operating right now. we are working this out as we speak. we would be reluctant to see our forces unable to operate there. at the same time, i think this'll be worked at the appropriate level with with your spots will people working with the president. >> you feel you can reverse what appears to be a final decision? going forth, i presume from your answer, the need to operate freely through afghanistan by special offer -- operations group is essential to the plans ? >> i think the decision was not taken. it is not just reversing it, it crafting how best we operate, which is a key route. i think it is still in place. i can

i had the honor of meeting him at walter reed medical center. mr. swalwell: i thank the sernlt for his brave actions around congratulate him on the achievement of a purple heart, his courage in combat and his service to our country should forever be remembered he exemplifies the marine corps' values of honor ander is vess every day. his selfless service reminds us as a nation that we must pledge when our troops are return home we leave no service member behind. along with serkt george and his -- along with sergeant george's fellow marines, i thank sergeant george and his family for their service to our country. i wish him a speedy recovery. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania rise? >> to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. thompson: mr. speaker, the federal reserve on wednesday, march 6, released the edition of its so-called beige book that said

reed krakoff. the same designer mrs. obama chose for the inauguration. here she is in michael kors.ters spoke to both of them. >> them as a couple. how they live in the white house. how they deal with the bubble. >> reporter: what struck him? >> they're sweet with each other. if there's any married couple to whom the phrase, they finish each other's sentences, it's them. >> reporter: of their marriage, the president says, it would be a mistake to think of my wife, hey, honey, how is your day? let me give you a neck rub. it's much more. we're a team. of his clothes, she jokes, this is the man who still boasts about this khaki pair of pants i've had since i was 20. and i'm like, you don't want to brag about that. >> reporter: she very effortlessly tells a story that leads to a punch line that could crack you up. i loved that she and i weren't finished laughing. and he was done and ready to move on, the president. and she would sort of look at me and keep laughing with me. i just loved that spirit in her that jovial spirit, it really surprised me. >> reporter: a story compelling reader

harkin, leahy, king, johnson of south dakota, warren, stabenow, murray, landrieu, reed of rhode island, shaheen, and blumenthal. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to a period of morning business, senators allowed to speak for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: and i hope the record is very clear that i do not criticize senator shelby. he's done his best. he was a tremendous advocate for his -- what he thought should be in this bill. but we're going to have to have senators stand up and talk about what's wrong with this place. when -- when all the work that's gone into a bipartisan bill, we're stymied from going to the bill, to offer amendments? note the absence of -- i'm sorry. ms. mikulski: madam president, a question for the majority leader. the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. ms. mikulski: i salute -- i mean, the leader has to govern the senate and move the bill. but a question for people who watch us and don't know what all these parliamentary maneuvers. if there is an agreement to move forward on amendments, is it possible then tomorrow

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mr. president, i say vouchers. where do you find the middle ground on those two? i'm joined by david corn, who's with "mother jones" of course, and grios.com the great joy reed. i'm flabbergasted only in the sense everybody keeps telling me paul ryan's got some smarts. here in the middle of this get-together, let's find a middle ground, let's work together, he pumps out with let's kill president obama's place in history to start the conversation. that will warm him up. your thoughts. >> absolutely. i don't know if it was about him that paul krugman said it's a dumb person's view of what a smart person sounds like. paul ryan is essentially trying to propose to balance the budget in ten years. his previous draconian budget did so in stiomething like 40. to meet this test, austerity at all cost, this fetish on the right, he's decided to take a meat ax not only to medicare as you said, voucherizing it, again, which he already proposed and was rejected before. there's this idea which is totally disingenuous, as if there's a single democrat breathing in washington, they're not going to repeal the affordable care act. it is not going to happen. he knows it. he's put

follows, reid of nevada, feinstein, stabenow, brown, reed of rhode island, carper, coons, casey, pryor, nelson, begich, mikulski, murray, levin and manchin. mr. durbin: i move the senate proceed to a period of morning business with minority permitted permitted each. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. durbin: i ask that when the senate complete its business, it he a jurn until 10:00 a.m., the journal of proceedings be approved to debate debate and the following any leader remarks the senate resume executive session in consideration of the brennan nomination, further that the senate recess from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. to allow for caucus meetings. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. durbin: if there is no further business to come before the senate i ask that it adjourn under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate stands adjourned until senate stands adjourned until >> i believe the united states has many fantastic qualities. i believe that many many people have the possibility of pulling themselves up by their bootstraps and i think every year that is less and less probable. but the united

a tweet reeds: the minute you say you do not deserve the same rights as me you're halfway to fashion system. [chanting] >> mry, we're going to put them down as undecided. [applause] >> mr. chairman, as i listen to those comments, instruct me what a wonderful thing free speech is. >> that is the hearing where donald rumsfeld was making the justifications for attacking iraq, and what you didn't hear in the clip were questions we got a chance to ask him, which is, how much money is halliburton going to make from the war? how many u.s. soldiers will be killed? how many iraqi civilians will die? and i'd like those questions answered now by somebody like donald rumsfeld. >> more with code pink cofounder sunday night at 8:00. >> 40 years after the start of the arab israeli war, newly declassified documents were released relating to intelligence covering the 1973 conflict. recently the richard nixon library and the cia hosed -- hosted an event. >> of our television audience, who may have just joined us, i want to tell you you're here with us at the richard nexton presidential library and museum in yorba linda, calif

mr. reed: thank you, mr. president. this is a bipartisan amendment cosponsored by senator collins of maine and senator merkley of oregon. the presiding officer: can we have order in the chamber, please. the senator from rhode island. mr. reed: thank you, mr. president. again, this bipartisan amendme amendment, cosponsored by senator collins and senator merkley, would add resources to the energy program for the purpose of increasing support for the weatherization assistance program. it would also include weatherization in the investments urn the deficit-neutral reserve fund on clean energy and environmental protection. weatherization does several things. puts people to work, helps low-income people control their energy bills and helps us move towards energy independence. we have to do more of this, not less. this will put us back on the track of doing more and i would urge passage. mr. sessions: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from alabama. mr. sessions: i thank the senator and his cosponsors for their

mr. reed: thank you, mr. president. the coburn amendment proposes to reduce you function for 49 national heritage areas by $8 million and redirect $6 million to park operations. it also strikes out the reauthorization of 12 areas located across the country weather bug including one in my state of rhode island but also in tennessee, south carolina, and georgia, among other states. the amendment doesn't really provide a real fix for the problems with respect to national park funding. moving $6 million will not make up for the 134 million cut we've imposed on the park service. in addition there has been a suggestion there would restore white house tours. those tours are governed by the secret service budget which is not part of this amendment so that would not be affected. these heritage areas are public-private partnerships, they're not national parks, they provide huge economic development, they're located across the country, it's something i think we should restore, maintain and not cut. with that, mr. president, i woul

mr. reed: mr. whitehouse: may i call up amendment 646. the presiding officer: the presiding officer: the clerk will report the amendment. the clerk: the senator from white house, at the end of title 3 add the following, section 3, deficit neutral reserve fund -- mr. whitehouse: i ask unanimous consent the further reading be dispensed with. the presiding officer: so ordered, unanimous consent. mr. whitehouse: mr. president, and colleagues, we have a new pope, pope francis, who said last week that our relation with god's creation is not very good right now. god's creation runs by laws, the laws of nature, the laws of physics, the laws of chemistry, and god gave us the power of reason to understand those laws. but they are not negotiable. they are not subject to amendment or repeal. and arrogance of our thinking that they are is an offense to his creation. we can ignore obvious facts, we can ignore the essentially unanimous science, our generals and commerce, we can ignore the insurance industry but we ignore carbon pollution at our peril an

mr. pryor: i ask unanimous consent that during the adjournment or recess of the senate, senators reed of rhode island, levin and rockefeller be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. pryor: i ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the senate, the president of the senate, the president pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two houses, or by order of the senate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. pryor: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today, it adjourn and convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business conducted, on the following dates and times and that following each pro forma session, the senate adjourn until the next pro forma session. tuesday, march 26, at 4:30 p.m.; friday, march 29, at 10:30 a.m.; tuesday, april 2, at 10:45 a.m.; a