Mr. President, I have been working in an unusual way across the aisle on an issue that I think is important in this body for the last 2 weeks, and I had planned to spend all day tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday--whatever it takes--to…

If I could just---- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois has the floor.

I believe we are stooping to a low level. The Senator from Kentucky and I agree on a lot and we disagree on a lot, and I am not here at this moment to debate the merits of either side. What I am saying is this is not the way the Senate…

My question is: Is this the way the Senate functions? And I am asking someone who I respect right now.

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Illinois. I have to say to my friend from Missouri that I agree that the discussion has been very good. I received an e-mail from my staff regarding what was happening. I got in my car and drove down…

I would like a ruling from the Chair. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois is correct.

I thank the Senator for yielding for a question, and I thank him for this discussion. I understand my request is out of order. I actually thank each of you for your heartfelt comments. All of us know that we all want to see these benefits…

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Illinois for his nature this evening. I thank all of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I think we have had a nice discussion. I think we all know this is not about any of our lack of…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 4691 which I understand to be the measure that is before us, that the amendment at the desk, which I understand offers a full offset to pay for this, be…

Mr. Speaker, recently Forbes magazine ranked what they called the most miserable cities in the country. Memphis, Tennessee, was third on that list. They considered certain issues but they didn't consider others. They didn't consider the…

Madam Speaker, many speakers have preceded me today in speaking about Mr. Murtha--and I will always call him Mr. Murtha because that's how I referred to him here in the House and that's how I will refer to him in memory. I only had the…

Mr. Speaker, indeed, it's been 1 year since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed without a Republican vote in this House and maybe only one in the Senate, and we've heard a lot of vitriol here today about it. The fact is…

Mr. Speaker, last week we were honored, in the State of the Union, to hear President Barack Obama address in this hall a joint convention, and then he met with the Republican Caucus this week in what was a remarkable political instance of…

I rise today to honor the sacrifice of Navy Hospital Petty Officer Second Class Xin Qi, who died in Helmand Province in Afghanistan on the 23rd day of January. Petty Officer Qi was assigned to the Operational Health Support Unit in Dallas…

Mr. Speaker, I just heard my colleague from east Tennessee make those remarks, and I had to add something because it's typical of what happens up here. The people from east Tennessee forget about the fact that Memphis exists in Tennessee…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Tennessee is recognized. Amendment No. 3302

Mr. President, the Senator from Missouri and I have worked on a number of issues together. I so much appreciate her comments. While I certainly cannot speak to what the position may be of leadership of whatever party on this particular…

I will. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri. Mrs. McCASKILL. Mr. President, I had no intention of speaking today, but this place has been a little strange over the last few months in terms of our ability to come together. When…