I don't know what the Senator's average age of a farmer in Kansas is, but my understanding is, at least nationally, the average age of a farmer in this country is nearing 60 years old, which means one thing: somebody is going to have to…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to enter into a colloquy with the Senator from Kansas for as much time as we may consume. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

Mr. President, this week the Gallup poll came out with a survey that said 85 percent of small businesses in this country are not hiring. They just are not hiring. When asked why, 50 percent of those small businesses responded that it was…

Mr. President, if the Senator will yield on that point, what the Senator has touched upon I think is something that perhaps people who don't come from farm country don't appreciate as much as we do, and that is just the very nature of…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 14, 2012, at 2:15 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee…

the number one priority of South Dakotans in the farm bill is a strong Crop Insurance Program.

We have an epidemic problem with the pine beetle in the Black Hills.

I think it is very clear. I think if you look at, as the Senator said, the debt as a percent of GDP--now over 100 percent; think about that--this is the highest level of debt, highest level of spending as a percentage of our GDP that we…

I would say to the Senator from Alabama that it was interesting to me because at the White House Fiscal Responsibility Summit in February of 2009--this is in the context of discussing our unsustainable budget deficits--President Obama said…

Mr. President, I thank the distinguished ranking member on the Budget Committee for engaging in this discussion, and I am anxious to hear from our colleague from New Hampshire, Senator Ayotte. She was there this morning and was able to ask…

If the Senator would yield on that point, in closing, I do think there will be a vote probably at some point. The House is going to pass a budget. We know that. I suspect what will happen is what happened last year. If the Senate fails to…

We really need a voice of reason, so thank you.

the full potential yet to be seen for rural America to contribute to our Nation's energy independence is going to be really important.

Mr. President, I am pleased to present the Banking Committee's public transportation bill to the Senate as an amendment to the surface and transportation legislation now before us. The transit bill was reported by our committee…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 14, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 14, 2012, at 10 a.m., in room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate, in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``Pain in America: Exploring Challenges to…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on February 14, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…