Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 2, 2011, at 2:45 p.m. in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 2, 2011, at 10 a.m. in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled…

I announce that the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Conrad), and the Senator from Louisiana (Ms. Landrieu) are necessarily absent. I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Louisiana (Ms. Landrieu) would vote ``no.''…

Madam President, I know personally the extraordinary efforts made by the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee to bring this patent reform bill to the floor. I have worked with him in the past, and it has not been an easy task. I know…

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 ``Improving Employment Opportunities for People with…

Madam President, in a few minutes the Senate will gather here to vote on the continuing resolution which funds our Federal Government, in this case for 2 weeks. It is hard to believe we have reached that point in Washington where we are…

I ask consent to speak in morning business for a few minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

What is the pending business before the Senate? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senate is in morning business.

I am glad my colleague came up to talk about high energy prices. We have consistently tried on this side of the aisle to talk about an all-of-the-above energy strategy. We are independent on electricity generation, but we are held captive…

I announce that the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. Akaka) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 97, nays 2, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No. 27…

I announce that the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. Akaka) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 52, nays 47, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No. 28…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Amendment No. 123

Mr. President, the Kirk-Pryor amendment seeks to assist some of our greatest innovators by providing a fast lane within the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for small businesses to receive information and assistance regarding their patent…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and call up the Kirk-Pryor amendment No. 123. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

Mr. President, today I rise to introduce a bipartisan resolution with my colleague Senator Durbin condemning the government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i minority. Founded in Iran in 1844, the Baha'i faith now…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To provide a fast lane for small businesses…

I announce that the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. Akaka), the Senator from New York (Mrs. Gillibrand), the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman), and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Rockefeller) are necessarily absent.

Thank you. I would like to say to the Republicans, be careful what you wish for. Your star is fading on this effort to repeal, to defund the Affordable Care Act. Only about 18 percent of Americans now are for full repeal of this bill. And…