Mr. President, I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The senior Senator from New Mexico. Amendment No. 2111 (Purpose: To provide substantial savings in health care costs to the Federal government and consumers by fostering competition…

Mr. President, prior to Senator Bingaman bringing up his amendment, I ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be in order and made pending: Leahy No. 2142, as modified, with the changes that are at the desk; Portman No. 2145…

Amendment 2146, as modified, filed by Senator Portman, places a number of synthetic drugs within schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act.

I am glad that those bills and, therefore, the substance of this amendment have already been given careful consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee. That gives me comfort in including this amendment among those to which the managers…

It is too bad that so much progress has been blocked by so few in this Congress. I am glad that the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act may provide an opportunity to make progress on this important issue.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following pending amendments be agreed to: Leahy No. 2142, as modified; Portman No. 2145, as modified; and Coburn No. 2131; and that the Coburn amendment No. 2132 be withdrawn. The PRESIDING…

Mr. President, I would modify my unanimous consent request to have the vote start at 12:05. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The assistant majority leader is recognized.

Madam President, parliamentary inquiry. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.

Mr. President, I concur with Senator Enzi on that, to stick to the bill. I ask unanimous consent, notwithstanding the previous order, the Senate proceed to votes in relation to the following amendments at 12 noon with all other provisions…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 24, 2012, in room SD 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 2:15 p.m., to conduct a hearing…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 24, 2012, at 10:30 a.m., to hold a hearing entitled, ``Ivory and Insecurity: The Global…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 24, 2012, at 10 a.m., to conduct a committee hearing entitled ``The Responsible…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 24, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 24, 2012, at 2 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

Mr. President, I want to thank my friend from Rhode Island for a very eloquent speech--elegant speech too--eloquent and elegant--in portraying what is so frustrating. And that is science knows what is happening. The scientists know what is…

The President has already said if the Republican measure were to pass and sent to him, he would veto it. That is a nonstarter. Surely my friend from Tennessee does not want to cut out all of this funding that we do for hepatitis screening…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 24, 2012, at 10 a.m., in SD 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive…

Mr. President, while I appreciate the confidence the Republican leader has in the ability of Mr. Enzi and me to get things done, frankly, we are confronted now with two votes. Which way do we want to go? What they are proposing is that we…