At just about this hour, the Sun is setting, and Jewish families around the country, including mine, are going to their Hanukkah Menorah--the festival of lights, the festival of a miracle that the lights lasted for 8 days. Usually, this is…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Don't blame Congress for not working together; blame the House Republicans who can't even work with each other. The one and only reason this House of Representatives is not voting for the bipartisan…

Mr. President, I rise to comment on the U.S. war in Iraq, which thankfully is coming to an end this month. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta made this historic declaration on Thursday at a formal ceremony in Baghdad. This means many things…

Mr. President, I hope we are drawing to a close. We are not certain; there are still some unresolved issues. But the Omnibus appropriations bill is moving forward, and it will fund our government for the remainder of this fiscal year. It…

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Illinois.

I announce that the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) is necessarily absent. I further announce that if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``yea.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that upon the use or yielding back of time on the Christen nomination and the resumption of legislative session, Senator McCain be recognized for up to 30 minutes as if in morning business; that…

Mr. President, we are all in the holiday spirit, at least partially, knowing that our families and the people we love are waiting for us back home and around the country to celebrate this once-a-year holiday occurrence. But we know we…

What does the Iranian nuclear threat to Keystone XL pipeline and the payroll unemployment insurance, doc fix, and jobs bill all have in common? Well, I'm going to use this 5 minutes to tie them together. Yesterday on the floor, we…

I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 15, 2011, at 11 a.m., to hold a Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Global Narcotics Affairs…

Mr. President, with this agreement, there will be two votes at 4 p.m. The first will be on the adoption of the Defense authorization conference report and the second vote on the confirmation of the nomination of Morgan Christen to be U.S…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the time for debate on the conference report to accompany H.R. 1540 be extended until 4 p.m., with all other provisions of the previous order remaining in effect; further, that at 4 p.m., the…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 15, 2011, at 2:15 p.m., to hold an African Affairs subcommittee hearing entitled, ``Improving…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 1612 and the Senate proceed to its consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will…

Mr. President, we continue to work on an agreement to consider the omnibus spending bill and a payroll tax compromise. Senators will be notified when votes are scheduled. The majority leader filed cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and the Coast Guard of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to consideration of H. Con. Res. 93, which was received from the House and is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent resolution by title. The…