I ask unanimous consent to proceed an additional 1 minute. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

All right. Mr. President, as I said, this particular amendment doesn't require that the administration actually establish a site for an east coast defense, but I do believe such a site would provide an important and critical measure of…

If we are interested in growth, Congress must avoid raising tax rates in the lameduck session and instead pursue tax reform, which sends a signal to the world that we are open for business. Short of going off the fiscal cliff entirely…

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. DeMint), and the Senator from Nevada (Mr. Heller). The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bennet). Are there any other Senators…

first, let me thank my colleague from Texas for her leadership on this and so many other issues that we have worked on over the years. One of my regrets in leaving the Senate is that I will not be able to work with her, and she has said…

First, I would like to speak to the Senator's amendment. I want to compliment her, commend her and her other cosponsors--Senator Lieberman, Senator Collins, and others--in their effort to bring attention to what is clearly a great need…

I will conclude by quoting one sentence from it. We call on Congress to avoid raising marginal tax rates on employers, either as part of negotiations over the fiscal cliff, or as part of a larger effort to reform the tax code. Instead…

I send an amendment to the desk No. 3123. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Arizona [Mr. Kyl], for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Risch, Mr. Lugar, Mr…

Let me begin by saying that I send this amendment to the desk with an understanding of the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and of the Armed Services Committee that before I would request a vote on this amendment, we would work…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Amendment No. 3123

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), and the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. Paul). The PRESIDING OFFICER. (Mr. Bennet). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result…

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Kirk). The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 62, nays 37, as follows: [Rollcall Vote…

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To require regular updates of Congress on the military…

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Roberts). The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Franken). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result…

I would like to continue the conversation that our two leaders were engaged in earlier and also on yesterday. This is going to be a very important issue for the Senate. To put it into perspective for the American people, let me just say…

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven), the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Isakson), and the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 50, nays 44, as follows…

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Kirk). The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 84, nays 12, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No. 203 Leg.] YEAS--84 Akaka Alexander Ayotte Barrasso Baucus Begich Bennet…

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Kirk). The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bennet). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 51, nays 47, as follows…

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Kirk). The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bennet). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 92, nays 5, as follows…

I know they talked all evening long, but I am not sure that Senator McCain was made aware that the Senator would propose this tonight.

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr), the Senator from Nevada (Mr. Heller), the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Inhofe), the Senator from Illinois…

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr), the Senator from Nevada (Mr. Heller), the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Inhofe), the Senator from Illinois…

The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Burr), the Senator from Nevada (Mr. Heller), the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Inhofe), the Senator from Illinois…

I said I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The majority leader.

reserving the right to object, I am very disappointed in this request. Senator McCain has been asking that the leader take up the Defense authorization bill for weeks. This evening he tried very hard to get agreement from the Senator from…