Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on March 11, 2010, at 10 a.m. in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive…

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, to conduct a hearing entitled ``A Fair Share for All: Pay Equity in the New…

When companies swell to include both content and distribution, we need to pay attention.

When consolidation occurs in these markets, we need to pay attention, therefore.

It is vitally important that when we have mergers in these markets, consumers cannot be left with lesser programming and higher rates.

These are services that are vital to our democracy, in fact.

I have to be at the Capitol. Our FAA bill is on the floor, and so I have to be on the Senate floor.

I just hope that we don't overdo it, but that we do just the right amount of regulatory and Congressional action.

At the heart of American democracy is our commitment to free speech and expression.

I think Congress and the regulators need to tread very carefully and make sure that the policies we discuss take account of the evolving nature of the marketplace.

Preserving free over-the-air stations is an essential component of this transaction, in my opinion.

I yield proudly to the Senator from Texas. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to Calendar No. 36, H.R. 1586, and that once the bill is reported, I be recognized to offer a substitute amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without…

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be waived. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of Amendments.'')

Mr. President, I am very happy to be here this afternoon with the most excellent ranking member of the Commerce Committee, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, to lay down our Transportation bill, and in so doing we say that our…

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following Finance Committee fellows and interns be accorded floor privileges for the consideration of the FAA bill: Aislinn Baker, Mary Baker, Brittany Durrell, Scott Matthews, Greg Sullivan…

Mr. President, as we move closer than ever to enacting legislation that delivers on the promise of secure and affordable health care across America, it is important to remember what is at stake and whom we are fighting for. Over the last…