Mr. President, I ask permission to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Franklin D. Cleckley, one of the true giants of the legal system of West Virginia. I do so because Frank is getting ready to retire after nearly half a century of service to our great State--as a…

Mr. President, I rise very briefly to commend my friend of 33 years for his maiden speech and thoughtful exposition of the challenges which face our country. I have had the opportunity to know and work with Tim Kaine since we were in law…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business and that the time count against the nomination. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Madam President, it is an honor to stand here for my first speech on the Senate floor. I am honored to be part of this body and to speak where hundreds have spoken before and thousands will speak after me. A normal first speech for a…

Mr. President, it is rare that I disagree with the Senator from Texas--maybe once or twice in the last half a dozen years. Seriously, we disagree from time to time, but we do it in a way that we are not disagreeable with one another. I…

Madam President, rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate requires each committee to adopt rules to govern the procedure of the Committee and to publish those rules in the Congressional Record not later than March 1 of…

On this coming Friday, March 1, we are going to see budget cuts that will devastate Federal workers, programs, agencies, and private sector contractors. This pending $85 billion in cuts for this fiscal year alone was intended to be so bad…

I am concerned about the failure to discuss mental health issues and the impact of the violent media in the whole debate following the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. There needs to be a three-legged approach to this problem. It…

Mr. President, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has adopted rules governing its procedures for the 113th Congress. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that…

I am pleased today that we've been able to bring forward H.R. 667. Former Chairman Hall was here today, and we had an opportunity to do this in the last Congress. So hopefully, in honor of these two gentlemen, real tremendous patriots and…

I recognize the good intentions of the gentleman in what they're trying to do. It's not justice and it's not fair. I urge a ``no'' vote for this bill.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on February 14, 2013, at 10 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Office Building, to conduct an executive business…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 14, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 14, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. in room SR 328A of the Russell Senate office…

Madam President, today I rise with a heavy heart because our Nation has lost one of its outstanding citizens and many of us have lost a dear friend. Charlie Morgan, chief warrant officer of the New Hampshire National Guard, passed away…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 14, 2013, at 9:30 a.m., in room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing…