I turn to my colleague, Senator Cantwell. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.

I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To restrict the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to…

Mr. President, we have just gone through a considerable period processing some votes. I appreciate the patience of colleagues as we have gone through it. As the majority leader mentioned, we want to figure out what the next tranche--the…

I move to reconsider the vote. Mr. McCONNELL. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 78, as Modified The PRESIDING OFFICER. There will now be 2 minutes of debate in relation to…

Mr. President, again, let me remind my colleagues that while we may agree we need to address this legal--but there is a loophole in the law. As many of us have just voted, 75 I believe, we say we need to address this oilspill liability…

Mr. President, we have the sense of the Senate that would express that all forms of bitumen or synthetic crude should be subject to the 8-cent-per-barrel excise tax associated with the oilspill liability trust fund. This is important…

I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 123 The PRESIDING OFFICER. There will now be 2 minutes of debate equally divided prior to a vote in relation to amendment No. 123, offered…

Through the Chair, I am sure we will have other amendments. Again, I want to defer to the Senator's ranking member on that as far as whether we bring it pending at this moment in time. It might be possible after we reach our agreement that…

Mr. President, I move to table the amendment and ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The question is on agreeing to the motion. The clerk will call the…

Mr. President, for the same reasons that I just expressed in the previous amendment that was before us, I would suggest that we move to table this amendment. I will make that motion now to table the Sanders amendment, and I would ask for…

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote. Mr. McCONNELL. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 24 The PRESIDING OFFICER. There will now be 2 minutes of debate equally…

Mr. President, we had a robust discussion yesterday on two amendments that dealt with the issue of climate change. I think we had a very clear and resounding vote on the one that had a perfectly reasonable statement that climate change is…

I am happy to make sure that is allowed. It wasn't included in the consent, but I am certainly happy to allow for the minute as Senator Boxer has asked.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I want to make sure we understand the vote was scheduled to begin 3 minutes ago. As part of the unanimous consent agreement, there was not a time allowed for Senator Boxer to speak. I don't…

I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment, as modified, is as follows: (Purpose: To ensure private property is protected as guaranteed…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to call up the Cornyn amendment, No. 126, as modified with the changes at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to modify the Blunt amendment, No. 78, with the changes at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is so modified. The amendment, as…

I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate that all forms of unrefined and…