I would suspect that in most circumstances a lawyer giving up that procedural right would be committing malpractice. Perhaps a lawyer in that circumstance could say to the client: I am going to do this because opposing counsel has asked it…

We are talking about a procedural strategy. We are not even talking about an outcome here. We are talking about the full utilization of the procedural rights of each and every Member of this body. We have been asked to give our consent and…

Is my colleague suggesting that we stop altogether the practice of issuing U.S. treasuries to finance the operations of government or is he suggesting that we go without a budget or that we simply halt the issuance of Treasury instruments…

The Senator from Texas is a seasoned constitutional scholar, a graduate of Princeton University and of Harvard Law School. He went on to clerk for Judge Michael Ludick on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, now general…

If I might ask, Madam President, of my friend from Texas, why wouldn't one want the usual rules of the Senate to apply? That is, why would one want to block or prevent the 60-vote threshold from applying with a debt ceiling increase, just…

I ask my colleague from Texas--who has on occasion expressed similar concerns to those I have just expressed with this kind of posture--so I ask my friend from Texas, is it in fact his interest, his objective to be obstructionist? Is he…

Madam President, to respond to my distinguished colleague and friend from Virginia, in the first place it is important for us to remember, yes, we are a bicameral Congress. Yes, in order to pass legislation you have to have something pass…

Madam President, reserving the right to object, I would like to explain briefly the overall situation. We are not objecting to budget. We are not objecting to conference. We just want the debt limit left out. It is a separate issue that…

El senado ha comenzado un debate historico sobre una reforma migratoria comprensiva. Hemos tenido y continuaremos a tener horas para debatir este asunto. Creo que es apropiado que tome unos pocos minutos para explicar la legislacion en…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to deliver a floor speech on immigration reform in Spanish and that the Spanish and English versions be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…

Mr. President, the Senate has begun a historic debate on comprehensive immigration reform. We have had and will continue to have hours of debate on this issue. I think it is appropriate that I spend a few minutes explaining the bill in…

Mr. President, for the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the Records on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of…

I would like to clarify that it is not the Committee's or the Senator's intent to exclude forest products from this program. And I would also like to clarify the meaning of the new provisions around innovation in the program.

I thank the Senator. Again I truly appreciate the attention to this issue and look forward to working with you and USDA in the implementation of this legislation to support the important forest products industry which has been an integral…

Madam President, I appreciate the opportunity to talk with the Chairman today to get clarity about the products that will be included in the USDA Biobased Markets Program. The Senator's hard work and vision on the issue of innovation in…

I thank the Senator. And what about companies like Robbins Lumber in Maine that produces solid wood products, like 2x4s or flooring? While the product may be the same product that has been on the market for decades, the company producing…

Let me give the Senator an example of a forest products manufacturer in my home state that I believe is incredibly innovative in how they grow and source their materials for their products. Verso Paper Company has 1600 employees at their…

Mr. President, our current immigration system is a travesty. It is inefficient, uncompassionate, and dangerous. It doesn't serve America's economic or social interests, and it undermines respect for the rule of law and for our Democratic…