Mr. President, I wish to follow my colleague from Alabama and speak for just a few minutes about our friend and colleague, Senator Mikulski, who celebrates her milestone through her public service to the people of Maryland. I asked my…

I thank the gentleman from Florida. We're in an unusual situation here where the same people on the other side of the aisle who decry the regulation of what insurance providers have to provide to those they insure across State borders and…

Mr. President, I rise to applaud the confirmation of Judge Gina Marie Groh to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. As then-Governor of West Virginia, I was honored to have the first female from the Eastern…

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

Madam President, I am pleased to join my colleagues on the floor to support this crucial legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. It provides essential services to women and families across the United States. I have seen…

Mr. President, I rise to speak on some of the issues that were just addressed by the Republican leader; that is, the legislation we will hopefully turn to next about creating jobs. There are a lot of occasions when legislation comes to the…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for an additional 5 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, when I talk to owners, operators, and employees of small businesses in New Hampshire, one thing I hear consistently is that access to capital is a real challenge. While our community banks have increased their lending…

The result is, many of these startup companies end up having to sell to a larger company, and many of the ideas and many of the job-creation opportunities are then constrained. We need to make it easier for these companies to access…

I thank the good Senator from Missouri for her courtesy. Madam President, I rise today to express my very strong support for the confirmation of Gina Marie Groh to serve as a U.S. district judge for the Northern District of West Virginia…

Mr. President, every day tens of millions of Americans take to the roads, board buses, use Amtrak, to get to work, drop off their kids at school, or visit friends and family. Our transportation system binds our vast and diverse Nation…

Mr. President, I am in this Chamber with my colleague, Senator Joe Manchin, who has as much interest in this as I do and feels the happiness from a wonderful event which will happen, we hope, tomorrow in West Virginia, which will not…

Madam President, before I say anything, I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Senator Boxer, Senator Inhofe and to members of our staff and your staff for their hard work. This is good stuff. Thank you. I wish to take 1 minute or so…

Mr. President, given that the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee was unable to mark up the National Rail System Preservation, Expansion, and Development Act of 2012 prior to floor consideration of S. 1813, I wanted to make a…

Mr. President, I also rise in support, along with Senator Rockefeller. What a good job he has done. We have both had the honor of serving our great State as Governors. As every Governor and legislator knows, we fight for every job we can…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that morning business be extended until 6 p.m., with the time equally divided between the two leaders or their designees, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 8, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 8, 2012, at 2:15 p.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…