Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The question is on agreeing to the amendment. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant bill clerk…

The H1N1 strain, more commonly known as the Swine Flu, claimed more than 18,000 lives during the 2009 outbreak.

It has been almost a century since the 1918 Spanish influenza virus infected one-fifth of the world's population.

I do want to apologize that I will, however, have to leave early due to a markup in the Appropriations Committee that begins at 10:30.

Yet virulent strains of influenza are still a major threat.

Madam President, I believe the odds of our getting the 60 votes for final passage are increased if I make my statement later, rather than delivering it right now. I will deliver my statement after the vote, but I do wish to thank Senator…

Mr. President, this amendment would strip from the postal workers the right to collectively bargain. This is an enormous change in labor law. Postal workers have had the right to engage in collective bargaining for more than 30 years. We…

Mr. President, I too support the amendment and urge its adoption. The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is on the adoption of the amendment. The amendment (No. 2029), as modified, was agreed to.

Mr. President, this is a commonsense amendment. It would limit the number of post offices in the Capitol Complex to one on each side--one in the House and one in the Senate. It does not affect the processing of mail out of the Capitol, and…

Madam President, this is an important victory for the U.S. Postal Service and the American economy. The Postal Service is the linchpin of a $1.1 trillion mailing and mail-related industry that employs nearly 8.7 million Americans in fields…

Mr. President, this amendment establishes what is essentially a privatization pilot program for the alternative delivery of mail outside of the universal service mandate of the Postal Service. I believe it would create chaos by allowing…

I thank the Chair. Mr. President, I urge support of Senator DeMint's amendment. It protects the first amendment rights of postal workers by requiring that unions obtain prior approval from workers before spending their dues on political…

Madam President, I support this amendment. There is an inexcusable backlog at OPM in processing the application for retirement benefits. It has caused real hardships for some retired Federal employees and postal employees. This bill will…

Madam President, first let me commend the Senator from Missouri for this amendment. It does make a great deal of sense to have the hardship exemption and to give more time for individuals who are injured in war zones and longer deadlines…

Sean Sullivan, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board for a term expiring October 19, 2015, vice Larry W. Brown, resigned.

I look forward to recognizing them with this award.

Timothy M. Broas, of Maryland, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

We have a sacred trust with those who serve and protect our nation.