I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd), the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Lautenberg), the Senator from Michigan (Ms. Stabenow), and the Senator from Florida (Mr. Nelson) are necessarily absent.

Mr. President, how much time do I have remaining? The PRESIDING OFFICER. One minute, 15 seconds.

Mr. President, in recent days, since the Chamber opened debate on Chairman Dodd's financial reform bill, we have all heard a lot of talk about the irresponsible behavior on Wall Street. We have heard about the recklessness that cost this…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 5 minutes as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Celebrating the Life of Lena Horne

Mr. President, in 1933, a 16-year-old girl named Lena Horne joined the chorus at a famous nightclub in Harlem known as the Cotton Club. This young woman was passionate about performing so she jumped in with both feet. And she never looked…

I thank my colleagues for their kind words on this matter. I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1143, a bipartisan resolution commending the Community of Democracies on its 10-year anniversary. The Community of Democracies is a truly…

Mr. President, I am pleased to join the distinguished Senator from Louisiana in supporting this small business legislation. There is a growing chorus in Washington of national leaders and advocacy groups, concerned citizens who have all…

First of all I want to thank Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall of the Science and Technology Committee for their work to develop and promote policies to strengthen our Nation's competitiveness in STEM. In particular, I applaud the…

Section 404 of the bill reorganizes the NIST laboratories, including creating an engineering laboratory for manufacturing and construction research. As you are aware, NIST currently performs important research on fire safety. Will this…

Madam President, I have an amendment which has been filed and is at the desk, and a modification of that amendment, which I wish to explain for a moment. It is an amendment related to interchange fees. Interchange fees are the fees charged…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Personnel of the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2010, at 10 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2010, at 2:30 p.m. to…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2010, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Iran Sanctions: Why…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., to hold a hearing entitled, ``Sudan: A Critical Moment for the CPA…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2010, at 2:30 p.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The…

Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Bingaman, I ask unanimous consent that the privilege of the floor be granted to Kevin Huyler, a fellow with the staff of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, for the pendency of S. 3217 and any…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee of the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2010, at 10 a.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen…

I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Begich). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 98, nays 1, as follows…