Madam President, tomorrow, we will continue to try to reach an agreement to take up and pass legislation to extend for 30 days the important unemployment and COBRA benefits that expire soon. ____________________

Madam 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 9:33 p.m., recessed until Friday, March 26, 2010, at 9:30…

I thank the Senator from Vermont and those who are gathered this evening. This was such an important day. Some in this Chamber may have heard some cheering in the hall. I believe that signifies that the House of Representatives has finally…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table and that any statements be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 3186, the Satellite Television Extension Act of 2010. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant legislative clerk read…

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table and that any statements be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The bill…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 3187 introduced earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S…

Let me thank the Senator from Oklahoma for his professionalism and his own decorum during the course of this debate. We want to maintain that on this side of the aisle. ____________________

Mr. President, I am now going to be asking unanimous consent that would extend the unemployment benefits for an additional 30 days. I make it formally in this form. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate…

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Michigan, and I yield the remaining time of the 15 minutes to the Senator from Oregon. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon is recognized.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the majority leader be authorized to sign any duly enrolled bills and joint resolutions through Friday, March 26, 2010. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

Mr. President, the reconciliation bill on the floor today realizes a dream of my friend and mentor, former Senator Paul Simon-- consolidation of the Federal student loan program entirely into direct loans. The very first Federal student…

Mr. President, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have confused some statements made by the President and made by me regarding whether the new health law will cause premiums to go down. The President has spoken forcefully about…

I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Kaufman), is necessarily absent. I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Kaufman) would vote ``aye.''

I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd), the Senator from Louisiana (Ms. Landrieu), and the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Udall) are necessarily absent.

Madam President, I urge my colleagues to oppose the Sessions amendment. It does two things. First, it requires legal permanent residents in the United States to produce documentary proof of their legality. We tried this under Medicaid and…

I announce that the Senator from California (Mrs. Boxer), the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd), the Senator from Washington (Ms. Cantwell), and the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Lautenberg) are necessarily absent.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…