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?

In that letter, he said: ``You are entitled to your own opinions but I ask that, moving forward, you do not confuse my father's position with your own.'' He said: ``I appreciate the past respect you have expressed for his legacy, but…

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…

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…

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 freedom of…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Dental Crisis in America: The Need to Expand Access'' on February…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 29, 2012, at 11 a.m., to hold a briefing entitled, ``Update on the Crisis in Syria.'' The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be authorized to meet during the session on February 29, 2012. The Committee will meet in room 418 of the Senate Russell Office Building beginning at 10 a.m. The PRESIDING…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session on February 29, 2012, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Nominations.''…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on February 29, 2012, at 10 a.m., in room SD 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``The…

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

could the Presiding Officer tell me what the pending business is? Are we on the Transportation bill at this time? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority has 4 minutes in morning business.

I want to congratulate the Cruise Line Industry of America and its members for instituting a new policy that requires a muster drill for all passengers before departure.

My very last question. I hope my friend is aware that right now the leadership is working very hard to take this very unwieldy list of amendments and get it down to some responsible number so we can begin, finally, in earnest. I have to…

as the majority leader is leaving the floor, I wish to say I am pleased he has decided to take us forward on this highway bill. So where do we stand? We are in a situation, here in the 21st century, where in order to move forward on a…

I ask unanimous consent that the following staff of the Finance Committee be allowed the privilege of the floor for the duration of the debate on S. 1813: Harun Dogo, Avital Barnea, Elizabeth Snyder, Christopher Tausanovitch, Andrea…

Well, let me say thank you to my friend. I know he is here to talk about judges, which is a critical issue. I am very happy he is going to do that. The lack of action on these qualified nominees is hurting our people. But I wanted to thank…

If my friend would yield for a question and keep the floor--and I ask unanimous consent that the time for this colloquy not be taken off his time, or does he have unlimited time?

Would the Senator yield? And I ask unanimous consent that she have an additional 60 seconds. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I wish to associate myself with the remarks of my fellow colleagues this morning. They are eloquent. When I looked at this scene that Senator Murray and Senator Shaheen had up here and looked at this picture of this panel that is supposed…

Very briefly, I just want to thank my friend so much. He has a lot of ties to the environment and public works community, and we know every State in the Union is watching us. They want to know that we are going to get our job done on the…

So what my colleague has done by offering this amendment is to offer now the agreed-upon Commerce package and the agreed-upon bill so that we can finally get started and not have us torn asunder. It was wonderful to interact with Senator…