Mr. President, following leader remarks, if any, the Senate will turn to a period of morning business for 2 hours, with Senators during that period of time allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes. Following morning business, the Senate will…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the cloture vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 4213 with amendment No. 4425 occur at 8 o'clock tonight, and that any time until then be equally…

Mr. President, as I indicated, H.R. 5623, the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act, is at the desk. I believe it is due for a second reading. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator is correct. The clerk will read the title of…

Mr. President, I would at this time object to any further proceedings. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard. The bill will be placed on the calendar. ____________________

OK. I was very anxious to get it done. So we can start the vote at 8 o'clock, if the Senator gets through speaking.

Mr. President, with 100,000 troops fighting on the front lines of our battle against terrorists in Afghanistan, the stakes could not be higher. That's why I was pleased that President Obama chose a proven leader for our forces in…

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, my friend the Republican leader knows full well that everything in the so-called extenders package was paid for. It was paid for because it was the right thing to do. We, as a…

Mr. President, I originally said 8:03. I ask unanimous consent that the vote begin now. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. Cloture Motion The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order and…

Mr. President, I enter a motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The motion is entered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar Nos. 802 to and including 808, 811, 900, 901, 903, 963, 965 to and including 992, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Air Force…

I ask for the yeas and nays on the amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered. Amendment No. 4409 to Amendment No. 4408

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered. Amendment No. 4404 to Amendment No. 4403

I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of Amendments.'')

I have a second-degree amendment at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment numbered 4406 to amendment No. 4405.

I have a motion to commit with instructions at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the motion. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] moves to commit H.R. 5297 to the Committee on…

I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: At the end, insert the following: ``The provisions of this Act shall become…

I now ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered. Amendment No. 4428 to Amendment No. 4427

I have an amendment to the bill at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment numbered 4405 to the language proposed to be…