I congratulate the Senator from Nebraska on his typically commonsense, reasonable presentation about how we might take steps to deal with the smothering regulations that are putting a big wet blanket on job growth in this country, and the…

I believe I have up to 20 minutes? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 16\1/2\ minutes remaining on the Republican side.

Mark Hatfield was elected to the Senate in 1966. It was a distinguished class that included some prominent Republicans, sort of a new wave in the Republican Party. In addition to Governor Hatfield, a former two-term Governor, there was…

I ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

later today the Senate will consider the nomination by the President of Judge Bernice Donald for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Donald is from Memphis, TN. I know her well. I am here today to introduce her to my colleagues and…

finally, Washington is taking some responsibility for spending money that we don't have. At a time when the Federal Government is borrowing 40 cents of every dollar it spends, this is a welcome change in behavior. I gladly support it. Make…

I ask unanimous consent to speak for 10 minutes under the time allocated to the Republican side. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

As one Senator, I thank the majority leader and the Republican leader for their comments. We all know what we need to do. We have two objectives. At a time when we are borrowing 40 cents of every dollar we spend, we need to reduce the…

I ask unanimous consent for up to 5 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?

I ask consent to speak for up to 15 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Brown of Ohio). Without objection, it is so ordered.

I congratulate the Senator from Texas for her remarks, for her leadership, for her willingness to be involved in and support a variety of ways for us to meet the two goals we have before us, one of which is to make a significant step to…

I thank Governor Johanns. It is terrific to be on the Senate floor with other former Governors. When we were doing the health care bill last year, I said everyone who voted for it ought to be sentenced to serve as Governor for 8 years and…

The question is, just how important is the Mississippi River? The Mississippi River system connects approximately 30 States in our Nation's heartland with the international markets. Sixty percent of all U.S. grain exports are shipped from…

I appreciate what the Senator from Illinois said and I congratulate him not necessarily for the specifics of what he said but for his general demeanor and attitude throughout this entire discussion about the deficit and the debt. He has…

I make a point of order that the amendment offered by the Senator from Iowa is not relevant. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair sustains the point of order. The amendment falls.

Thank you, Mr. President. This situation recalls the debate we had at the beginning of the year when a number of Senators felt as though we needed to make the Senate a more effective institution, which is always a noble goal, but we had…

I believe Senator Harkin is coming in the next few minutes. In the meantime, I thought I would comment on the legislation that has been before the body since late last week--to reduce the number of Senate confirmations of Presidential…

I congratulate the Senator from Oklahoma on his remarks and participation in this debate. Before long, we should have--whenever the majority leader decides--a vote on the Coburn amendment. We are in a position on this resolution that…

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 legislative clerk called…

I thank Senator Schumer for his leadership, as well as Senator Collins and Senator Lieberman. I will make my full remarks following the vote, but I do want to say this bill helps the Senate do its job under the Constitution. Article 2…

I thank the majority leader and the Republican leader, Senator McConnell, for the way they worked on this legislation. Not just on this bill, but when they were the respective whips of their parties several years ago, each of them working…

I congratulate Senator Schumer for his diligent work on this effort to help the Senate do a better job with its responsibilities of advice and consent. As the chairman of the Rules Committee, he and I have been working together at the…

I thank the distinguished Senators from Maine and Connecticut not just for their comments today but for their work for nearly a decade on this issue. This is hard, slogging work in the Senate. It is not easy to do. As I mentioned earlier…

next Tuesday, the Nation's largest exporter and employer of more than 150,000 Americans will be appearing before an administrative judge in Seattle to defend itself against a claim brought by the acting general counsel of the National…

on Wednesday I traveled to Greene and Washington Counties in Upper East Tennessee--up near Virginia and North Carolina--to visit with the victims of tornadoes that swept across our State on April 27 and to see firsthand how the recovery is…