I'm willing to give a little but said he would not compromise when it comes to higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans.

Nominations sent to the Senate

I announce that the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Conrad), the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. Inouye), and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Rockefeller) are necessarily absent.

Madam President, I say in response to the Senator from Michigan, the Senate Republican leader, Senator McConnell, has such a strong appetite for the filibuster that we have seen 386 or 387 filibusters in the last 6 years, and now he has…

Madam President, I met with Jo Ellen Darcy, the Assistant Secretary for the Army Corps of Engineers. She came to my office last week to discuss the low levels of water on the Mississippi River. This week the National Weather Service…

Madam President, the College Board recently released its annual report on trends in college pricing. What the report found was more students in debt with higher amounts of debt than ever before. The biggest offenders? No surprise…

Madam President, what just transpired deserves a word. Senator McConnell came to the floor this morning and offered a change in law that would help us avoid the kind of obstruction and the kind of showdowns that we have had in the past…

I announce that the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. Inouye), the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Rockefeller), and the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Conrad) are necessarily absent. I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from…

The bill before us, the permanent normal trade relations with Russia, is important legislation to expand trading opportunities. I was thinking, as the Senator from South Dakota spoke about this debate on the floor and what it was like…

Madam President, I wish to thank the Senator from Michigan for her leadership on this issue--21 days until Christmas, 27 days until ``cliffmas.'' That is the fiscal cliff--December 31--and people are counting down. Two-thirds of Americans…

We are not going to get $1 as long as there is language in the appropriation bills that says no Federal money can be spent on California high-speed rail.

I would hope that we could find Members of Congress that wouldn't prohibit the Federal Government from funding high-speed rail projects.

It is truly more blessed to give than to receive and that the simplest gifts bring the greatest joy.

As Tom says, the tree has one message: 'It's Christmas time, not disaster time.'

I will not play that game.

We need to raise a certain amount of revenue.

Together, we've stepped up support for Tribal Colleges and Universities, so that more young people can graduate with the skills they need to start a career.

Madam President, I want to recognize ``a wonderful life.'' Much like the movie starring Jimmy Stewart, it is the story of a small town boy who dreamed of big adventures in a big city, but who discovered his life's calling not far from…