I ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statement related to the bill be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Banking Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5981, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The…

I ask unanimous consent the Senate resume legislation session. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted for up to 10 minutes each; that upon the conclusion of the so-called wrap-up period the Senate then resume executive session and continue…

In my final minute I would like to change subjects and speak about another subject that is very important to people in Louisiana, particularly to some of my African- American farmers and the small communities that they primarily reside in…

Five minutes. That is great. I thank the Senator from Washington, who has been a partner on this bill with me from day one. She is a member of the Small Business Committee, quite an expert in the field of small business financing having…

This recession is a national recession, but you feel it in every town, in every community, in every city where mayors and Governors out there--Democrats and Republicans--are fighting every day to bring vitality back to their communities…

I ask unanimous consent the Gillibrand substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time, and that a budgetary pay-go statement be considered read and printed in the Record and that the bill be…

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 5283, which was received from the House and is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R…

I ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statement be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Banking Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5872, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The…

Mr. President, I understand we are not in any particular order. I wish to speak for about 15 minutes, and then I understand there will be leadership time prior to the vote scheduled for 5:45. I wish to take a minute to refocus the Senate…

If the more difficult fiscal scenarios that you, Senator Conrad and Senator Gregg, were outlining in the beginning start to play out, we should expect an increase in long-term interest rates.

I am very concerned that a major fiscal issue is completely missing from this discussion.

I completely agree with what both you, Senator Conrad, and you, Senator Gregg, said at the beginning about our longer-term fiscal issues.

the administration exempted the defense budget from spending freezes being applied to other parts of the government.

the initial legislative intent behind the defense QDR has degraded over time.

the 2010 QDR lacked a clear future planning construct going forward 20 years.