Mr. President, I rise in support of H.R. 2867, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011. Many of our Nation's Founders fled religious persecution, and they placed great…

I ask unanimous consent that the Feinstein substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read three times and passed; the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., on Friday, December 16, 2011; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 15, 2011 at 9:30 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The…

Mr. President, 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 7:03 p.m., adjourned until Friday, December 16, 2011, at…

Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 3094) to amend the National Labor…

I now ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The bill will be read the second time on the next…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 15, 2011, at 10 a.m. in room…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 15, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. in room 328A of the Russell Senate Office…

Mr. President, I have a press report that was released today relative to the testimony of Director Robert Mueller of the FBI, which I referenced in my speech. So that his statement will be reported more fully at this point, I ask unanimous…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 347 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The…

Mr. President, I further ask 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 that any statements be printed in the Record. The…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to be added as cosponsor of this measure. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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 ``Prescription Drug Shortages: Examining a Public…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on December 15, 2011, at 10 a.m. in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING…

As of today, the war in Iraq is over. This is a monumental day on which we must celebrate the service and sacrifice of the 1.5 million young men and women in uniform who served there and of the nearly 4,500 Americans who died there along…

Madam President, we have two other provisions that are in the National Defense Authorization Act that I want to briefly mention. First, we have a modified Brooks amendment in the conference report that says if there is any plan to deliver…

Madam President, I wish to rise in support of the Feinstein-Leahy-Lee legislation. We are taking up the Defense authorization bill with the controversial provisions in it, somewhat protected already by the Feinstein language. But this…