Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 14, 2010, at 2 p.m., to hold a hearing entitled ``Afghanistan: Governance and the Civilian…

Mr. President, I want to thank my friend and our majority whip, Senator Durbin, for laying out, I think in very stark and honest and open terms, what we are facing in this country today. I wish to pick up on that and to carry it a little…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Stephen Hart, Sean Long, Cara Krueger, and Jesse Greenwald, of my staff, be granted the privilege of the floor for the duration of today's proceedings. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Water and Power be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate in order to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, July 14, at 3:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness of the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 14, 2010, at 3 p.m., in…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Heidi McDonald and Amanda Spinney from Senator Bingaman's office be granted the privilege of the floor for the remainder of today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Sarah Cramer and Michael Crusinberry of my staff be granted the privilege of the floor for the duration of today's proceedings. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I thank the Senator, who has been a champion of working people and families for all the many years I have known him, and that is many years now. I thank him for telling us about what the CBO said in the deficit commission. I…

Mr. President, I am sorry I was not here on the floor-- but I was watching in my office--when my colleague from Ohio, Senator Brown, made his recent statement on the Senate floor. I think Senator Brown pointed out very poignantly what is…

Mr. President, with the passing of our colleague, Robert Byrd, a mighty oak in the forest of Senate history has fallen. There are flowers on his desk, but there is a tremendous void in our midst. As we all know, Senator Byrd was the…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Adam Pelzer and Madeline Daniels of my staff be granted floor privileges for the duration of today's proceedings. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

We want to ensure that, if confirmed, you will be true to the Constitution and the laws as written.

Americans know that our exceptional Constitution was written to ensure that our Federal Government is one of limited separated powers.

To me, this kind of judicial philosophy endorses judicial activism, not judicial restraint.

while you were in favor of good ideas coming from wherever you can get them, the judges shouldn't be bound by foreign legal precedent.

The Constitution tasks our Senate with conducting a comprehensive review of the nominee's record and qualifications.

I'm disappointed that you didn't use the word 'settled law' in the same definitive manner in regard to Baker v. Nelson.

In regard to that and stare decisis, what weight would you give to Baker v. Nelson?