I was listening with interest to my good friend from Alabama, a man I work with very closely on a number of issues. But on this one, we see the world a little differently. He has made his point that Democrats held up a lot of judges and so…

I just have to say Senator Paul's amendment is a broad overreach that would endanger the health and safety of the people he represents, whom I represent, and every Senator represents. What I have is essentially a side-by-side amendment…

I want to say to the Senator from Vermont, first of all, thank you for all of his hard work on the Environment and Public Works Committee. The Senator focuses on jobs like a laser beam. Yes, the Senator is correct. The intent is that this…

can I ask, what is the amendment pending before the body? Amendment No. 1810 The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the question is on amendment No. 1810.

we have two choices on how to handle rebuilding and maintaining infrastructure, whether it occurs after an emergency or is just in the stream of regular maintenance. What we have done in this bill is extraordinary, and I think everyone…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 14, 2012, at 3 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on Homeland Security…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 14, 2012, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Raising the Bar for Congress…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on March 14, 2012, at 2:45 p.m., in room SC 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled…

I simply want to thank both leaders for their kind remarks. Really, I have to say that Senator Inhofe and I and our staffs really became a close family as we worked through this bill. I am so moved by the way we were able to come together…

I yield back our time, but Senator Inhofe has something to say. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.

I again thank everybody. During our earlier morning business period I praised all of the staffs from both sides of the aisle, all of the chairmen, and all of the ranking members. So thank you so much. It was a great vote, 74 to 22. If…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be authorized to meet during the session on March 14, 2012, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Ending Homelessness Among Veterans: VA's Progress on Its 5-Year Plan.'' The…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs' Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 14, 2012, at 2:30 p.m., to…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 14, 2012, at 10 a.m., to hold a hearing entitled, ``Sudan and South Sudan: Independence and Insecurity.'' The…

If these tubes rupture, radiation could be released at levels that exceed safety standards.

Today the NRC announced that it is flying out a special investigation team to conduct a more intensive evaluation of the plant.

I know that our thoughts and our prayers go out to the people of Japan and the victims of this catastrophe.

I would suggest as I did at the last meeting that maybe the difference that is taking place here is not the personality flaws of the chairman but a philosophical difference that exists about how the NRC should proceed.

Does the NRC consider harmful impacts beyond the radiation exposure impact, including such things as evacuations, the clean up of contamination, when determining whether to require safety measures at our nuclear reactors?

We yield back. The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time is yielded back. The question is on agreeing to the amendment. The amendment (No. 1540) was agreed to. Amendment No. 1814, as Modified The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.

with that, I would say au revoir, and I will see everybody in the morning. 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 thought I could give Senators and those who may be following this very elongated debate on the highway bill an update as to where we are. We have a managers' package we are hoping to approve momentarily. It is a bipartisan package. We…

I know Senator Bingaman is here, so I will ask a quick unanimous consent that the time until noon be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees, that there be 2 minutes equally divided prior to each vote, and all votes…

I ask to have an additional 15 seconds, since he went over by that much. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, there will be 1 minute of debate in opposition prior to a vote in relation to amendment No. 1756 offered…

I am asking for that. Fine. I think this is so critical. The DeMint amendment is the end of the Federal highway and transportation system. It is a system that has been in place since Republican President Dwight Eisenhower told us how…