I thank the gentlelady from Texas for her very pointed observations on a variety of different issues concerning the comprehensive immigration reform issue. I would just like to amplify for a moment one point that was made as it relates to…

Thank you, Congresswoman Clarke, for those very eloquent and thoughtful remarks. The Congressional Black Caucus consists of 42 members representing a variety of communities all across this great Nation. We've been joined today by two…

Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of the millions of Americans who are saying: Enough is enough. They have seen too much senseless deadly gun violence and are demanding commonsense solutions out of Congress. One solution I have been…

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Baldwin). The clerk will call the roll. The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the period of morning business be extended until 3 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Iowa.

Mr. President, I know Senator Kerry will be speaking tomorrow, so I will be brief. I think I speak on behalf of every one of us here that we so admire the job Senator Kerry has done in the many different phases of his past life. We are…

Mr. President, I thank the chair of the Appropriations Committee for the wonderful job she has done. We have worked together as a team, and she has been great. This is her first major bill as chair of the Appropriations Committee, and I…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I thank the chairwoman for making this clarification. It is my hope that as the Army Corps and other agencies work to assess the region's needs post-Sandy, they will work collaboratively to develop the best techniques to rebuild our coasts…

Mr. President, I thank Senator Mikulski for her leadership, not only leading the charge for aid that our families in New York so desperately need but, as chair of the Appropriations Committee, making sure this bill is as strong as it…

I don't think anyone challenges the fact that we have to stop overspending. You just can't simplify it and say, ``Stop spending.'' The problem that we have now is that the debt ceiling has nothing to do with the full faith and credit of…

Over the last 2 years, the debt ceiling has been illegitimately demonized, politicized, and mischaracterized. If it were possible to give voice to the debt ceiling, it might reasonably ask the question: Where do I go to get my reputation…

I thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding me this time. The Budget Control Act of 2011 sets the budget for the next 10 years. It actually says it in the name of the bill: the Budget Control Act. Many of my colleagues on either side…

The gimmick nature of this whole thing I won't elaborate on. It's been done before. The fact that this provision of withholding pay from Members of Congress is unconstitutional as it varies Members' pay is obvious. The argument that…

I thank the gentleman. I would also like to confirm my understanding that this language would only preclude use of appropriated funds if the expenses in question were actually reimbursed by the formal self-insurance plan. In other words…

It is a pleasure for me to yield 2 minutes to Ranking Member Visclosky of the Defense Appropriations Committee.

I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) whose district has really seen incredible damage. He understands the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the people and community and the businesses.