Mr. President, I wish to speak briefly about interchange fee reform, an issue I have worked on for many years and an issue which was taken up just recently last Thursday when the Federal Reserve considered legislation we passed in the…

Mr. President, am I allowed to be heard on the point of order? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is no debate on a point of order.

Madam President, I rise to oppose the START treaty because it recognizes limits on U.S. missile defenses in return for marginal reductions in the Russian arsenal. At the moment when the U.S. and allies must build missile defenses to…

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 an additional understanding regarding…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I have a second-degree amendment at the desk, No. 4922. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Illinois [Mr. Kirk] proposes an amendment numbered 4922…

Unfortunately I was not able to be in Washington, DC today to vote on the motion to concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 847. Had I been in Washington for this vote, I would have voted ``present.'' ____________________

I find it appalling that a bill of this magnitude was amended in the Senate just hours before the House was asked to vote on it, with no Member having had the chance to review and deliberate on what we were voting on and enacting into law…

As unemployment remains painfully high, and we see our students falling behind in math and science, Americans are asking: What can be done to make our future better? Although today's bill won't gain big headlines, it is a critical step…

I announce that the Senator for Indiana (Mr. Bayh), and the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Wyden) are necessarily absent.

Mr. President, I wish to join my colleagues in noting the farewell address of Senator Arlen Specter is an inspiring moment in the Senate. It has been my great honor to serve with Senator Specter and to be a member of the Senate Judiciary…

I announce that the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Bayh), the Senator from New York (Mrs. Gillibrand), and the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Wyden) are necessarily absent. I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from New York…

I announce that the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Bayh), the Senator from Alaska (Mr. Begich), and the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Wyden) are necessarily absent.

I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.

I come down tonight to put into the Record the names of some freedom fighters who have been jailed, not only politicians, but also members of the news media, after the stolen elections in Minsk, Belarus, of two nights ago. The opponents of…

I announce that the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Bayh) and the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Wyden) are necessarily absent.

I announce that the Senator from New Hampshire (Mrs. Shaheen), the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Specter), and the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Wyden) are necessarily absent.

Mr. President, how much time is remaining on this side? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There remains 10\1/2\ minutes to the Senator from Illinois.