Senator Kerry: Farewell to the Senate

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I want to begin by thanking my colleagues--all of them--for their unbelievably generous comments to me personally, in the committee, on the floor, and in the halls and at meetings over the course of the last weeks. I will always be grateful for our friendships.

   I thank my wife Teresa, who is here with us, and my entire family for their unbelievable support through this journey.

   Five times Massachusetts has voted to send me to the U.S. Senate. Yesterday, nearly three decades after the people of Massachusetts first voted me into this office, the people with whom I work in the Senate voted me out of it. As always, I accept the Senate's sound judgment.

Senate avoids nuclear winter

Senate Leaders Finalize Scaled-Back Filibuster Deal

The final details of the deal struck by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), which make only minor changes to the filibuster rules in the Senate, show why leading reformers are so disappointed in the outcome.

The new rules would

40 Years of Roe

Press Conference “40 years of Victims”

Women who are victims of abortion spoke from the heart about their private experiences at a bipartisan press conference marking the 40th year since the Roe v. Wade decision made abortion legal and paved the way for 55 million abortions. The event was jointly held by Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Co-Chairs of Congressional Pro-life Caucus, and Diane Black (R-TN).

Defense Bill Defends Religious Liberty

One of President Obama’s first moves in 2013 was to sign into law the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that authorizes and prioritizes funding for the Department of Defense and other select national security programs. Yet along with his signature, President Obama issued a statement criticizing several portions of the bill—including the religious freedom protections for military chaplains and other servicemembers (Section 533).

Welcome to the 113th Congress (Senate)

Yesterday leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell welcomed senators to the 113th Congress.

   Mr. REID. Madam President, it is my pleasure to convene the 113th Congress. I welcome back all my colleagues to a place that we love, the U.S. Senate.

Welcome to the 113th Congress (House)

Yesterday the United States House of Representatives elected John Boehner of Ohio to be Speaker of the House.  Speeches from Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner followed.

 The committee will retire from the Chamber to escort the Speaker-elect to the chair.

   The Sergeant at Arms announced the Speaker-elect of the House of Representatives of the 113th Congress, who was escorted to the chair by the Committee of Escort.