I have no further requests for time. At this point, I would urge the passage of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I now yield 4 minutes to the sponsor of the legislation, the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).

With that, I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Manchin). The Senator from Texas.

Mr. President, it is my understanding we are coming to the end of the time on this debate--or consideration, I should say. There has really been no debate. I think that speaks to Senator Kerry's tremendous standing in the Senate on his…

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk called the roll. Mr. KERRY (when his name was called). Present.

Madam President, I rise to speak to the nomination of Senator Kerry to be the next Secretary of State. It has been more than 100 years since a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was directly nominated to be the Secretary of…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent--it has been agreed to by the Republican side as well--that any time spent during debate time in a quorum call be equally charged against both sides. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is…

Mr. President, I agree completely with Senator Gillibrand's sense of urgency regarding this vitally needed plan. I also know that my good friend from New York and I agree on the need to recognize and, to the greatest extent possible, to…

Mr. President, first of all, I thank the distinguished chair of the Appropriations Committee for all of her incredible work and help here, as well as that of the staff, in bringing us to this moment. We would not be here without her…

Again, I agree with my friend from New York. I would also note that this collaborative study should take into account the particular needs of disadvantaged communities within our States, many of which face unique challenges as they seek to…

Mr. President, I rise to encourage the Senate to seek quick action on the Sandy relief package that has been long overdue. I know the majority leader is committed to bringing it to the floor as soon as we can get some type of agreement…

The 14th Amendment of the Constitution states, if I may paraphrase, the public debt of the United States shall not be questioned. In other words, we don't even have the power, really, in section 4 of that amendment. Take a look at it and…

Thank you very much for that very powerful statement. I yield to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Nunnelee).

Mr. President, I deeply miss my friend Danny Inouye. Danny Inouye's passing leaves a huge void in the Senate and for me personally, as I have lost a dear friend, and now being the sole U.S. Senator to have served in World War II is a…

Dr. Roe, thank you very much. Thank you for your great leadership here. I would like to now yield to my good friend and colleague, Dr. Fleming, a medical doctor as well, from the great State of Louisiana.

I thank the gentlelady for her very eloquent statement. I yield to my good friend and colleague, Mr. Huelskamp.

I want to thank my good friend and colleague, Marsha Blackburn, for her exemplary leadership and for her very eloquent statement today. I'd like to yield to Congresswoman Ann Wagner, the gentlelady from Missouri.

40 years ago today marks the U.S. Supreme Court's infamous, reckless, and inhumane abandonment of women and babies to abortionists. Forty years of victims, dead babies, wounded women, shattered families. Forty years of…