Mr. President, there was a recent survey of how many families in America have an immediate member of the family who is serving in the military. The number is one of the lowest in history. It turns out the families who actually know someone…

On Monday, December 12, 2011, I was unable to attend votes due to a previously scheduled appointment. Monday evening I held a listening event with concerned citizens in the town of Savoy. I could not, in good conscience, cancel on a group…

I thank the gentleman, Mr. Larsen from Washington State, for recognizing me and sharing the time with me. I am here to express my full support for this bill, H.R. 2845, the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of…

I want to thank the ranking member for his outstanding leadership and for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I oppose this ill-conceived, nonsensical, and in all ways awful bill, H.R. 1633, which could have a devastating effect on the…

If the premise of this bill is to simply provide regulatory certainty to rural farmers and reiterate what Administrator Jackson has already publicly stated--that EPA would not alter the Bush-era standards for coarse particulate…

I have an amendment at the desk. The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: In section 2, strike ``applicable to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter greater than 2.5…

I demand a recorded vote. The CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois will be postponed. Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mrs. Christensen The CHAIR. It is now in…

I want to thank the ranking member for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I want to share with the Members of this body the administration's position on this particular bill that is under discussion right now. This is a Statement of Administration…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. ``This administration remains committed to commonsense approaches to improving air quality across the country and preserving the competitiveness of every economic sector. Because H.R. 1633 is not only…

I announce that the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 53, nays 45, as follows: [Rollcall Vote…

It's great to get a chance to come back down to the floor to visit with my colleagues and talk about an issue that I've been raising seven or eight weeks in a row. I'll have a little more extended time to go over what has transpired over…

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 ``Tales from the Unemployment Line: Barriers Facing…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, at 10 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. 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 8, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, in the President's Room, at 10:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, at 2 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. subcommittee…