Madam President, as we learned today from articles around the country--I will refer briefly to one in USA Today: As gas prices hover near $4 a gallon, nearly seven in 10 Americans say the high cost of fuel is causing financial hardship for…

Madam President, I would object to any further proceedings at this time. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection having been heard, the bill will be placed on the calendar under rule XIV. ____________________

Madam President, I am told that H.R. 1231 is due for a second reading. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will read the title of the bill for the second time. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 1231) to amend the…

Madam President, following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in executive session to consider the nomination of Susan Carney, of Connecticut, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit. There will be 2 hours of debate. A…

I suggest the absence of a quorum, Mr. President. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

I ask unanimous consent the bills be read the third time and passed en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate; and any statements relating to this matter be printed in the…

Mr. President, I am told there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will read the titles of the bills for the second time. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 1229)…

Mr. President, imagine there is a choice for Congress to make. Here is the choice. There are two doors. We are standing before both of them, but we have to pick one of the doors. Behind door No. 1 is a choice that the Chairman of the…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 177. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the resolution by…

Mr. President, following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 5 p.m. today. There will be no votes today. The first rollcall vote of the week will be around noon tomorrow on the…

I ask for the second reading of this piece of legislation in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, but I object to my own request. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 17; that following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17, the majority leader be recognized to move to proceed to Calendar No. 42, S. 940, the Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act, and Calendar No. 43, S. 953, the Offshore…

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order following the remarks of Senator Merkley. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to this matter be…

Mr. President, there will be a rollcall vote around noon tomorrow on the confirmation of the nomination of Susan Carney, of Connecticut, to be U.S. circuit judge. Additionally, there will be a rollcall vote on the motion to invoke cloture…

Mr. President, I would object to any further proceedings with respect to these two bills. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard. The bills will be placed on the calendar. ____________________

Mr. President, I am told there is a bill at the desk due for its first reading. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 1231) to amend the Outer…