The filibuster that has been waged by the Republicans in the Senate has gone on now for 2 months to stop unemployment benefits. What the minority leader just offered was a 1-month extension. We have been limping and dragging our way from…

I thank the gentlelady for yielding. History is incredibly instructive and helpful for us at a time like this. August 13, 1961, Nikita Khrushchev gave an order and that was to move forward and put up the Berlin Wall. At first, it was just…

This week, the first round of provider payments with a 21 percent cut was sent to physicians who treat Medicare beneficiaries. This drastic reduction in reimbursements is quite simply unacceptable. Doctors in my district who provide…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Hagan). Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

Madam President, near the end of May, we learned that the unemployment rate in my home State of Illinois had fallen to about 10.8 percent, down from 11.2 percent in March. That is the first time the unemployment rate has gone down since…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now stand in recess subject to the call of the Chair. There being no objection, the Senate, at 7:35 p.m., recessed until 9:09 p.m. and reassembled when called to order by the Presiding…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 552 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment be withdrawn; the Carper substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to, and the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; the motions to…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business and that Senators be recognized for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 541, and that the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is…

I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Dorgan), and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Rockefeller) are necessarily absent.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 339, H.R. 725. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Dorgan amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 430, S. 1508. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to; that a Conrad amendment to the preamble be agreed to; the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the resolution be…

The minority leader, Senator McConnell, is right. Deficits are important. So are facts. Let's mention a few facts on the floor of the Senate. When was the last time the U.S. Government ran a surplus? A surplus. Collected more money than it…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________