There will be two votes around 6 p.m. tomorrow on judicial nominations. Additionally, cloture was filed today on the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act. If no agreement is reached, that vote will occur on Thursday. ____________________

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Would you agree that taking away someone's constitutional right to own firearms should be a pretty high threshold?

This is a Nation that will always be grateful for that service.

I am surprised myself. I hope when we do go home constituents in all of our States will say: Stop the bumper sticker politics on the floor of the Senate and get down to passing an energy bill. I think we most certainly, if we stop…

Mr. President, I understand there are three bills at the desk. I ask for their reading en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the bills by title en bloc for the first time. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A…

It is a good thing. The Senator from Alaska is right on as usual on this subject and in the main stream of what most Americans, I believe, are thinking about. I wanted to ask the Senator from Alaska, following his comments--I mean, why…

I now ask for a second reading, and I object to my own request, all en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection having been heard, the bills will receive their second reading on the next legislative day. ____________________

That ship was just christened this weekend in Louisiana. So the relationship between Louisiana and Alaska goes back a long way. I am very happy to have the Senator here advocating for a smart and effective energy policy. This debate some…

It is a very good paying job. This is a very good point because I have tried to remind everyone here that this oil and gas industry that exists in Louisiana and Alaska does not just support the people of our States. Think about it. There…

It is also producing great wealth. I do not think people understand because a lot of the land in the West is public land. So we hear this debate about public land, et cetera. But most of the land in my State is private land. In fact, the…

We don't have to drill everywhere. The resources are so spectacularly promising. I have to get back to this blaming President Obama. I don't know if my friends on the other side remember who the President was when the Governor of Florida…

The Senator is right. I am glad he mentioned this as well because I happen to also represent a State that has a tremendous petrochemical industry. Of course, that is because the Mississippi River is there, as well as the great finds in the…

Yes. I wish to reemphasize too the importance of getting back to the basics on energy policy. I have been privileged to be here long enough where I have helped to pass comprehensive energy bills. I remain hopeful when I wake too. I am a…

Mr. President, while I am on the floor, I would like to speak for a few more minutes, if I might, on another subject but one that is equally important. The Senator from Alaska and I just spent some time talking about a balanced approach to…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate agree to the House request to return the papers on H.R. 5, the HEALTH Act, and authorize the Secretary of the Senate to return the papers on H.R. 5 to the House of Representatives. The…

Mr. President, this week there is plenty of drama unfolding at the Supreme Court, the stately building across the street from where we now stand. The Justices are deliberating inside the building. There is a lot of shouting and clamoring…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak in morning business for up to, or perhaps 1 or 2 minutes over, 20 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________