Mr. President, I see others standing. I will be brief and just say a few words in support of the so-called talking filibuster. In the world of the most arcane things that people can concentrate on, this book would be on the top 10…

After I explain my position I will. That is a classic illustration of someone who initiates a filibuster and then takes a powder--goes out to dinner or goes home to attend an event and says: Just let the Senate burn up 30 hours. I will be…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein) and the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. Inouye) are necessarily absent.

The obvious question is, what do we accomplish by staying here all night? Every 15 minutes or every hour the majority leader could ask for a live quorum and Members could be asked to come vote. If they don't, their voting record would…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein), the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. Inouye) and the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) are necessarily absent. I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from…

I ask unanimous consent to begin the Democratic side of the morning business. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

Madam President, I listened closely to the speech given by the Senator from South Dakota about the deficit. I was thinking as he gave the speech that it was a good one, but I think a little bit of history is warranted at this moment. In…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on January 26, 2011, at 10:30 a.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate at 10 a.m. on January 26, 2011, in Dirksen 406. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate to conduct a hearing on January 26, at 9:30 a.m., in room SR-325 of the Russell Senate Office…

Madam President, shortly after midnight Mass during the early hours of New Year's Day, a heinous suicide bombing attack at the Saints Church in Alexandria, Egypt, killed 21 innocent worshippers and injured dozens of others. My condolences…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein), the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Rockefeller), and the Senator from Virginia (Mr. Webb) are necessarily absent. I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator…

Madam President, I want to thank Majority Leader Reid and our colleagues from Arizona, Senators Kyl and McCain, for bringing this important resolution to the floor of the Senate. It has been over 2 weeks, but our shock and sadness over…

Madam President, what is the pending business before the Senate? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. S. Res. 14.

Madam President, how much time remains in morning business on the minority side? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There is 6 minutes 47 seconds remaining.

I ask unanimous consent to reserve that time. I do not believe there is another Republican Senator on the floor. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I reserve a point of order against the amendment. The CHAIR. A point of order is reserved. The gentlewoman from Massachusetts is recognized for 5 minutes.

There is really no sense of irony here, is there, that the proponents, the self-described proponents of transparency and openness, in the twinkling of an eye before a vote on an adjournment day come over and say there's your motion to…