As the Presiding Officer knows, this week the President sent his budget to Congress. This happens every year. The budget is a document that determines what the spending will be and what the revenues will be not just for the next fiscal…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to enter into a colloquy with my Republican colleagues for up to 30 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

Mr. President, I thank the Senator for his leadership on the Budget Committee. I see we have also been joined by one of our new Members, a freshman Member, who comes from the business side of things. He ran a manufacturing company, so he…

Mr. President, I thank Senator Johnson for his perspective, and it is very helpful. We are now going to hear from another colleague who also is a new Member of the Senate but has a lot of experience in what makes the economy work and has…

Mr. President, I thank Senator Toomey. I appreciate his focusing on the progrowth elements because, as I said at the outset, a budget is an opportunity to set the Nation on a 10-year course, both on the spending side--how much should the…

Mr. President, the first vote tomorrow will be at approximately noon on confirmation of the Jordan nomination. Additional votes in relation to amendments to the surface transportation bill are possible. ____________________

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 6:28 p.m., adjourned until Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at 9:30 a.m…

Mr. President, I understand that S. 2105, introduced earlier today by Senator Lieberman, is at the desk, and I ask for its first reading. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the title of the bill for the first time. The bill clerk…

Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent for its second reading and object to my own request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The bill will be read for the second time on the next legislative day. ____________________

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the resolution of the Senate of January 24, 1901, the traditional reading of Washington's Farewell Address take place on Monday, February 27, 2012, at a time to be determined by…

Mr. President, today, only 54 percent of Americans ages 18 to 24 have jobs--the lowest employment rate for young people since this data was first collected in 1948. It is a job deficit that cripples our economy in both the short-term and…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration en bloc of the following resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 373, S. Res. 374, and S. Res. 375. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record…

Mr. President, I would like to speak on one of these resolutions, S. Res. 375, about the Columbus, OH, bicentennial. Today marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of the city of Columbus, our largest city, one of the great cities of…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate adjourn until 9:30 on Wednesday, February 15, 2012; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, and the…

One more point I wish to make. We must remain vigilant in enforcement of our trade laws. Our progress in autos is at risk of being undercut if we allow China to continue to cheat on trade rules, flaunt its predatory auto trade practices in…

Madam President, earlier today I toured Alcoa's Cleveland Works plant. The plant houses an engineering and manufacturing marvel of a 50,000-ton Mesta forging press. It stands 87 feet high; 36 feet below the surface, 51 feet above the…

Mr. President, I am here today to talk about the President's budget, which he submitted today. In an era of trillion- dollar deficits and historic debt and the greatest level of government spending since World War II, I believe the…