Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 640, and that the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be discharged from further consideration of PN 1565, 16 Public Health Service nominations received by the Senate on April 26, 2012, beginning with Joseph R. Fontana and ending…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3992 and the Senate proceed to its consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a Levin amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session and the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of Presidential Nomination 1520, David J. Lane of Florida, for the rank of…

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the exemplary citizenship of Gary Bates. This is recognition for a life that has been lived and is continuing to be lived well--the kind of honorable life that too often goes unrecognized. Gary's…

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

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, the Republican leader is now proposing an amendment to the Senate-passed bill--a Senate-passed bill that we are very proud of. It has been engineered and advocated by all Democratic Senators…

Mr. President, last month, the Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization on a strong bipartisan vote of 68 to 31. Fifteen Republican Senators--including all the women on the other side of the aisle--joined Senate…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Begich). Without objection, it is so ordered. Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 5652

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived, and the vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 3220 occur at 2:15 p.m., on Tuesday, June 5. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The resolution (S. Res. 475) was agreed…

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the provisions of S. Res. 475 as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Senator James Abdnor of South…

It is my intention to resume the motion to proceed to S. 3220, the paycheck fairness bill, when the Senate convenes on Monday, June 4. There will be a rollcall vote on confirmation of the Hillman nomination. ____________________

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn and convene for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted on the following dates and times and that following each pro forma…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore, and the majority leader and minority leader be authorized to make…

I now ask unanimous consent that from Friday, May 25, through Monday, June 4, Senator Leahy be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask for a second reading, the purpose of which is to place this joint resolution on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, but after having said that, I object to my own request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The…