I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 616, 617, 618, 619, and 620; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; the motions to reconsider be laid…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged en bloc from the following nominations: PN 2350 and PN 2351; that the Senate then proceed en bloc to the nominations; that the nominations be confirmed en…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of the following nomination, PN 2374, and the Senate proceed to the nomination; that the nomination be confirmed, the motion to…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn sine die under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 336. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

Madam President, I further ask unanimous consent that when the Senate returns on Wednesday, January 5, at 12 noon, following the prayer and pledge and following the presentation of the certificates of election and the swearing in of…

Mr. President, I am joined by my colleague, Senator Voinovich, in support of the passage of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2010, DERA. The folks of Ohio and Delaware sent us to Washington to find ideas that will work, ideas we can…

I just returned from the signing of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The President spoke wisely and strongly and welcomed those who were discharged under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy to consider reenlisting. President Obama said…

Madam President, today, the Senate has a historic opportunity to follow in a long history of strong, bipartisan support for reducing the threat posed by nuclear weapons around the globe. We have a chance to strengthen American national…

Madam President, I thank my colleague from Massachusetts, Senator Kerry. I wish to respond to Senator Risch's amendment because I am very sympathetic to the concerns he is raising. All who watched Russia's invasion of Georgia had to be…

Mr. President, I will speak only for about 1 minute and then give the rest of my time to Senator Feinstein who wishes to speak to the question of the covers. I do not want to speak to the technicalities that have been raised, but I want to…

Mr. President, about an hour or so ago, our colleagues voted on whether we should proceed to final debate and eventually to an up-or-down vote on whether to ratify the New START treaty. I think it is safe to say most Democrats, most…

Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the Senate's deliberation of the New START treaty and the treaty's implications for our friends and allies in Eastern and Central Europe and, more importantly, the national security of the United…

Mr. President, in my opinion, the jury has returned its verdict, and the overwhelming evidence is that the Senate should ratify the treaty. Support for the treaty should not be viewed through the lens of being liberal or conservative…

In his piece, the Secretary discusses the importance of verification and closes with this thought: The original START Treaty expired last December. The time has come to start seeing again, with penetrating eyes, and to start learning from…

Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a September 7, 2010, opinion piece from the Wall Street Journal by former Secretary of State George Shultz, who served under President Reagan. I think all of us who…

Mr. President, I also bring to my colleagues' attention a July 14, 2010, letter to Senators Levin, Kerry, McCain, and Lugar, from former commanders of the Strategic Air Command and U.S. Strategic Command. Again, I hope my colleagues will…

Mr. President, I believe many of these experts remain concerned, as do I, that a failure to ratify the treaty would be exploited by those factions in Russia who wish to revert back to our Cold War posture. Such a failure could easily be…

Mr. President, a number of experts I have consulted with have pointed out--and I have agreed with--the need for the President to provide public assurances regarding the U.S. commitment to a robust missile defense system. So I was pleased…