I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, this bill comes in at a svelte $54 billion of a budget bust, and I found it ironic that the chairman of the committee and the former chairman of the committee have talked about this in the…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am a strong supporter of stabilizing Medicare physicians' payments permanently. Short-term fixes create instability and uncertainty for physicians and patients. But if we don't act now, on…

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in support of this en bloc amendment, which includes my amendment to improve oversight of contractors in Afghanistan. The United States employs over 100,000 contractors in Afghanistan, and we need…

I would like to commend Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McKeon for all of their work on this bill and for our troops. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of three Buy American amendments that I've offered, I along with Ms…

I thank the Chair. Madam President, this past Monday evening, as dusk fell on my hometown of Chicago, a handful of young people took to the streets with violent intentions. By the time the sun came up on Tuesday, no fewer than seven people…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess until 2 p.m. and that the postcloture time continue to run during the recess period. There being no objection, the Senate, at 12:51 p.m., recessed until 2 p.m. and reassembled when…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Summer Jobs

It is with great pride that I rise today in support of Mr. Murphy's amendment to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. At its core, this is a vote against discrimination and division, a symbolic gesture to the country and the world that Congress'…

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it recess under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 9:53 p.m., recessed until Friday, May 28, 2010, at 10 a.m…

I announce that the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. Akaka) and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd) are necessarily absent.

I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd) and the Senator from North Carolina (Mrs. Hagan) are necessarily absent.

I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd) and the Senator from New Hampshire (Mrs. Shaheen) are necessarily absent. I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from New Hampshire (Mrs. Shaheen) would vote…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 5330, which was received from the House and is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read…

I announce that the Senator from Arkansas (Mrs. Lincoln) and the Senator from Missouri (Mrs. McCaskill) are necessarily absent.

I was trying to get down here when Senator Harkin was completing his remarks, to join him, because I am as concerned as he is about the impact of these nominations that still remain on our Executive Calendar here at the Senate. This…

Mr. President, I rise to congratulate Joseph Flynn, a constituent and friend, on the occasion of his 90th birthday. It has often been said that our Greatest Generation is comprised of those Americans who pulled the country out of the…

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation designed to improve educational opportunities for struggling students. The All Students Achieving Through Reform Act, or All-STAR Act, would provide Federal resources to the most…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 27, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. in room 328A of the Russell Senate Office Building. The…