I say to my friend through the Chair that I see what is developing now as very, very bad for our country. It is hard to comprehend--I ask my friend this question--it is hard to comprehend how the House of Representatives, at the height of…

And coming to the Senate, the Senator has seen how slowly things have to move here in the Senate; is that right?

And in the Senator's years serving in the House of Representatives, he has seen how quickly things can move over there; is that right?

And the Senator understands the difference between the procedures in the House and in the Senate, does he not?

It is true, is it not, that the Senator served many years in the House of Representatives?

Mr. President, I ask permission to ask my friend a question through the Chair. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized.

Mr. President, first, let me get this off my chest. Coming in today, I just heard the announcement that the House of Representatives is taking the weekend off. I have reached out to the Speaker. I have not had an opportunity to speak to…

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be…

Mr. President, I now move to proceed to Calendar No. 106, H.R. 2560. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the bill by title. The bill clerk read as follows: A motion to proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 106…

Mr. President, following leader remarks, I will move to proceed to H.R. 2560. The time until 2 p.m. today will be equally divided and controlled, with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the majority controlling the next…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I would ask that my request be modified to allow 2 minutes of debate, equally divided, between the votes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. Amendment No. 556, as Further Modified The amendment…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Johnson- Kirk amendment No. 556 be modified further with the changes that are at the desk; that Senator Warner be added as a cosponsor to the Johnson- Kirk amendment; that the pending…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate receives H.R. 2560, it be ordered to be read twice and placed on the calendar. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Madam President, there is a fundamental principle we have to focus on in the Senate, and I think we have focused on it; that is, we cannot default on our debt. We have 11 or 12 days until that crucial time comes. We have a number of plans…

Madam President, following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour. The majority will control the first half and the Republicans the final half. Following morning business, the Senate will resume…

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 6:48 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, July 21, 2011, at 9:30 a.m…

Mr. President, tomorrow morning, the majority leader will move to proceed to H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act. There will be a full debate on this bill. We will decide how much time is needed. We will work on this as we proceed. If…