Mr. President, a few weeks ago we considered a Wall Street reform bill which tried to address some of the underlying problems in our economy which led to the recession. It was an ambitious undertaking. The Senate Banking Committee, under…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Boxer), the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd), and the Senator from Missouri (Mrs. McCaskill) are necessarily absent.

Madam President, would you please advise me when I have spoken for 9 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair will so advise the Senator.

I thank the Senator from Washington because she brings back an experience that I had 21 years ago, when I went to Prince William Sound in the beautiful State of Alaska. It is one of the most beautiful places on Earth but at that moment it…

I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd) and the Senator from Missouri (Mrs. McCaskill) are necessarily absent.

I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd) and the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson) are necessarily absent.

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Boxer) and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd) are necessarily absent.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Interchange Fees

Madam President, the Murkowski resolution gives the Senate a choice between real science and political science. That is what it comes down to. The EPA went to the scientists across America and asked them the basic question: Do greenhouse…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The remarks of Mr. Durbin pertaining to the submission of S. Res. 549 are located in today's Record under ``Submission of…

Mr. President, 2 weeks ago, we considered the Wall Street reform bill, and the occupant of the chair was a key player in the activities of the Banking Committee that led up to the floor consideration. I offered an amendment during the…

Mr. President, Chicago has its cold days, and icy sidewalks in the winter. But this year's winter proved to be the right opportunity for the perfect conditions for Illinois' most recently acclaimed sons and daughters, the Chicago…

Last night, and well into this morning, the sounds of celebration rang through the streets of Chicago. Throughout the city, a proud anthem was sung, an anthem which begins: Here come the Hawks--the mighty Blackhawks. Many consider the…

You have no idea how much I'm going to enjoy this, but sometime late last night, Patrick Kane put the puck past a Philadelphia goaltender in overtime, and the Chicago Blackhawks became the Stanley Cup champions. Congratulations to the team…

Mr. President, pending before the Senate is a bill that includes many provisions. It is known in shorthand as the extenders bill because each year there are portions of the Tax Code which expire, and they relate to a lot of different…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Resolution of Disapproval

Mr. President, pending before us on the floor is the bill from the Senate Finance Committee, the extenders bill relating to the Tax Code, but I would like to address an issue which is to come before the Senate tomorrow. It is an issue that…

I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 57, nays 42, as follows: [Rollcall Vote…