I thank the majority leader for his statement, for the time he has spent. I was looking at the Executive Calendar. But, first, I have spent most of this week working on the student loan issue, as the majority leader knows. And we are…

I ask consent that the Senators from North Carolina and West Virginia and I be permitted to engage in a colloquy for a few minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Heitkamp). Without objection, it is so ordered.

If I could respond to the Senator who suggested that,--the answer is yes. I think it is fair to say that the consolidation option that a student has in case the rates go up, at 8.25 percent can be called a cap. It is not a hard cap, but it…

That is how I understand it. I would say to the Senator from North Carolina,--I would presume a graduate of the University of North Carolina would be smart enough to make that decision for herself or himself?

if I may respond to the Senator from West Virginia. First, I wish to congratulate Senators Manchin and Burr for helping the full Senate understand this issue. This is similar to a lot of issues we have to face. They are not simple. I used…

I come to the floor to ask my Democratic colleagues to take another look at the student loan issue that will be before us tomorrow. We are playing with real lives here. These are about 11 million students who are going to college in the…

I wonder if I might ask, through the Chair, the Senator from Michigan a question. I notice her chart on 7 million students, and I wonder which 7 million students she is talking about. My understanding is there are 11 million students who…

Well, if you are 1 of the 11 million students who borrow money under the bipartisan proposal--let's say you are an undergraduate, and that is two-thirds of the loans--your rate would be 3.66 percent this year, next year, and for the next…

I thank the Senator from Michigan. It could be my numbers are wrong. I think the 7 million student figure is actually a very good billboard for why not to support the Democratic proposal but to support the bipartisan proposal because what…

I would say to the Senator through the Chair, she is correct. The idea of this is instead of Congress playing political ``fix it'' during every election, we have turned this into a sort of doc fix where we are treating students the same…

I thank the Senator from New York. I understand he has a previous meeting. I don't want to make him late because maybe it will produce some result. I hope it will produce a result--I don't see an issue that benefits either political party…

I am glad I stayed to hear the Senator from Washington speak because I think this highlights the issue. That is a terrific political speech, but it bears no resemblance to what is actually happening in the student loan debate. The…

I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Schatz). Without objection, it is so ordered.

I join my colleagues in complimenting the Senator from South Carolina, No. 1, because of his work ethic. I have the privilege of being the ranking Republican member of the committee that has maybe the broadest jurisdiction, the most…

That was de Tocqueville. Mr. McCONNELL. De Tocqueville. Washington, when he was presiding over the Constitutional Convention, according to legend, asked what will the Senate be like. He said: Well, it will be like the saucer under the…

for the last few weeks, I have been listening to the Republican leader ask the majority leader not to turn the Senate into a place where a majority of 51 can do anything it wants. I am on the Senate floor today to suggest three reasons why…

I wish to congratulate the Republican leader on his remarks. It is important for those watching to know there are plenty of us here who know how the Senate is supposed to work, and we are doing that. We passed the farm bill, and we passed…

I agree with the Republican leader. Of course, the distinguished majority leader agrees with the Senator as well. He said in his book in 2007--I read it, but I will read it again--when talking about the Republican efforts several years…

I come to the floor to talk about Doug Bailey. Doug Bailey died last week at age 79. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Doug Bailey helped define the role of political consultant in the 1960s and 1970s and that he founded the…

I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

I would like to say on behalf of several Republican Senators, including Senators Burr, Isakson, Kirk, Roberts, Hatch, and Enzi that I am introducing today the Every Child Ready for College or Career Act. This bill would let States decide…

I urge a ``yes'' vote because this is a permanent solution for 100 percent of the student loans. It reduces rates for every single student's new loan. It has no profit on the student. It fixes the rate for the time of the loan, and it is…

how much time remains prior to the vote? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There are 2 minutes remaining. (The remarks of Mr. ALEXANDER pertaining to the introduction of S. 1101 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and…

I would like to congratulate the Senator from North Carolina for his proposal. The two votes we are having today are like the opening act at the circus, and hopefully the main event will attract some Senators who are willing to conduct…

Thank you, Mr. President. If the Acting President pro tempore will let me know when I have used 10 minutes, I would appreciate it. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair will so notify the Senator.