Madam President, the first letter is from the Cancer Action Network asking us to vote no on the Blunt amendment. On behalf of millions of cancer patients, survivors and their families, we write to express our opposition to the amendment…

All right. 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 thank my friend. When I looked at him, I thought, He is one of the few people who have such a personal stake in two issues that have been merged together, unfortunately: the Blunt amendment, which would allow anyone to opt out from…

I know my colleague worked very hard on the health care bill, am I right on that?

Madam President, I thank Senator Whitehouse of Rhode Island for his words. Also, he is an exceptional member of the Environment and Public Works committee. First and foremost, he brings us the point of view of his State and he fights on…

Madam President, I just want to thank my colleague from Maryland for her eloquence and for her fighting spirit. The year I came here was following on the Anita Hill issue, when the world saw and this country saw we had no women on the…

Madam President, before the Senator from Maryland leaves the floor, I think it is an opportunity to thank her so much for speaking the truth today on the floor of the Senate--just the facts-- and what the Blunt amendment is about and isn't…

Mr. President, do we have a specific order here for speaking? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democrats currently have 30 minutes of time.

What are these bills? These are bills that called for equity for women to get contraceptive coverage. If they were given other coverage, they had the right to get contraceptive coverage. Ted Kennedy was a leader. He is a cosponsor on all…

Mr. President, I am on the floor here today, as I was earlier, to talk about the dangers of this Blunt amendment. Senator Blunt says it has nothing to do with providing health care to women; it has nothing to do with that. It is just about…

I am so proud of this letter we wrote together. In the letter, we said: The most important thing is to nominate an exceptionally well-qualified, intelligent person to replace Justice Souter. . . . Women make up more than half of our…

As the senior Senator from New York relinquishes the chair to his colleague from New York, I want to thank both of them for their amazing leadership in every issue we turn to today. Senator Schumer's work to help us bring this…