Madam President, I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Gillibrand). The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Rhode Island is recognized.

Mr. President, today I introduce with my colleagues Senators Whitehouse, Sanders, Stabenow, and Franken legislation to stop the student loan interest rate from doubling on July 1 of this year. This is an issue that weighs heavily on many…

I remain optimistic we will find common ground again this year.

I would like to welcome Richard Cordray, the newly appointed Director of the Consumer Bureau.

I am hopeful that in 2012, we can continue to work across the aisle.

Mr. President, representing a State that is coming up on our 350th anniversary, I am delighted to salute the great State of Michigan on its 175th anniversary. I rise to note the anniversary of an unfortunate event that is undermining the…

Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Rhode Island have been hit hard by this recession. Last night, President Obama offered Congress a plan to rebuild our economy with proposals focused on manufacturing, innovation, investments in…

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor to H.R. 3784. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McKinley). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Rhode Island? There was no objection…

Mr. Speaker, again I'm heartened because, as the gentlelady spoke, I came to the conclusion we're in full agreement. House Republicans are in full agreement, so that gives us hope, ladies and gentlemen. That gives us hope going into this…

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my colleague from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to respond to my colleague on the other side of the aisle who just spoke in regard to when it comes to unemployment benefit extensions. What we have to do, in my opinion…

Mr. Speaker, I'd just remind my good colleague on the other side of the aisle that we were here. The House Republicans were here December 22. December 26, conferees weren't even named yet. I was here Thursday and Friday of New Year's…

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would just like to say simply this, that we wholeheartedly agree with the general sentiment that has been brought to the House Chamber today, with the motion that is before this body, that we need to do our work…

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 1 minute to my good friend from Missouri (Mr. Long).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in great agreement with my colleague from California on the other side of the aisle. What she has articulated before us in this Chamber, Mr. Speaker, is an instruction to…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I so appreciate my colleague reminding me of the offsets on the doc fix bill. And I would just like to remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and this entire Chamber that…

Mr. Speaker, I do have to remind my good friend on the other side of the aisle that, on December 22, House Republicans were here. We were sitting in the conference ready to get to work, and conferees on their side of the aisle had not even…