This is public service and you have responsibilities to the public.

this might lend itself to selective and abusive application by the executive branch, not with the intention to reduce spending and control waste, but to punish and reward legislators for their support of or opposition to various things.

So, you intend to represent that commitment as something that's binding.

I appreciate the fact that BP has made these representations. I'd feel more comfortable if there were some binding requirements here, or they were legally binding.

The financial responsibility of oil companies must be clearly defined.

Are you interested in working on both of those to see that the folks who are affected by this oil spill are protected?

Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, at 10 a.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing on the President's Nomination of Tracie L…

Would you take a hard look at this letter. It does raise real questions.

Mr. President, I will have a unanimous-consent request that has been cleared on both sides. This is a unanimous-consent request about a nomination that has been on the calendar since September 27, which was reported out of the Armed…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 526, the nomination of BG Michael J. Walsh; that the nomination be confirmed; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the…

Mr. President, I thank my colleagues, Senator Levin and Senator McCain, and the rest of the Armed Services Committee. I think all of us would say to General Walsh: Congratulations to you. We are sorry it took the time it took. It was…

Mr. President, again, Michael Walsh is a good soldier, who served 30 years and has gone to war for this country. The demand that existed and resulted in holding this nomination is a demand that could not be met. He could not possibly do…

My understanding is that we would now yield 6 minutes to the Senator from Illinois, after which I have been asked to call for a quorum call. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois is recognized.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Walsh Nomination

Mr. President, I have spoken on this amendment previously and have waited patiently for several weeks to be able to have an opportunity to vote on it. We have not been able to get it pending. I now have it pending because I offered it as a…

Mr. President, I appreciate the courtesy of my colleague from Connecticut. My colleague talks about unintended consequences. We already know the real consequences of what are called naked credit default swaps. That is all we are talking…

Madam President, the second-degree amendment that I have just sent to the desk to the Grassley amendment is the amendment that there has been an objection to my offering. So it is the only way, apparently, I can offer the amendment. It is…

Madam President, I send a second-degree amendment to the desk to the Grassley amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from North Dakota [Mr. Dorgan] proposes an…