I now ask for a second reading and in order to place the bill on the calendar under rule XIV, I object to my own request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection having been heard, the bill will be read for a second time on the next legislative…

Mr. President, it is hard to imagine we are a little over 24 hours away from going over the so-called fiscal cliff, which occurs at midnight on December 31--tomorrow. This cliff is self-imposed. It is a penalty we voted for if we fail to…

I ask unanimous consent that where applicable, the committee-reported amendments be considered; that any amendments to those amendments, which are at the desk, be agreed to; that the committee-reported amendments, as amended, if amended…

Mr. President, I wish to clarify a few things. The Parliamentarian referred the bill to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It was reported favorably by that committee. It was referred to the Senate Banking Committee, but I made a…

Mr. President, I rise with the intention of asking consent for the immediate consideration of passage of S. 2215, the Increasing American Jobs Through Greater Exports to Africa Act that I have introduced in the Senate with Senators…

Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk. I ask for its first reading. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the bill by title for the first time. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 459) to…

I announce that the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), and the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Lautenberg), are necessarily absent.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 3715 introduced earlier today by Senator Harkin. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant legislative…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it recess until 11 a.m. Monday, December 31, 2012; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for…

I do not believe there is any further debate on this bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time. The…

I further ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times and passed, the motion to reconsider be made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any related statements be printed in the Record. The…

I ask unanimous consent the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I announce that the Senator from Massachussetts (Mr. Kerry), the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Lautenberg), and the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Leahy) are necessarily absent.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 283, S. 970. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 970) to…

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent it recess under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 7:26 p.m., recessed until Monday, December 31, 2012, at 11 a.m…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of S. 3250, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…

I ask unanimous consent that the Cornyn substitute at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements related to the bill be printed in the…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when tributes to Danny Inouye, late Senator from Hawaii, be printed as a Senate document, and that Members have until 12 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, to submit said tributes. The PRESIDING…