Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for such time as I may consume. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

So here is the good news. The good news is we have a bill over in the House. It is a clean continuing resolution. It would open the doors to government immediately. And it is a very short-term CR-- continuing resolution--and would still…

Madam President, we are in the 13th day of a self- inflicted crisis brought to us by the Republicans. Why did this happen? Why are we in the 13th day of a shutdown, the 13th day of the American people not being able to count on their…

Madam President, I thank my colleague from Louisiana. I am so appreciative of her because she is telling it like it is. She is sincere. She cares about her State. Let me reassure her, she and I do not agree in terms of the parameters of…

Madam President, as we know, this is the 11th day of a completely manufactured crisis, a self-inflicted wound that came about because our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are obsessed with repealing a law that is called the…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 12, 2013, and that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal…

Madam President, at noon tomorrow there will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S. 1569, the debt limit legislation. ____________________

Madam President, I understand that H.J. Res. 79 has been received from the House and it is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the joint resolution by title for the first time. The assistant legislative clerk read as…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I may speak for such time as I may consume. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Madam President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order, following the remarks of Senators Sessions and Blunt. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection…

Madam President, I ask for its second reading and object to my own request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection having been heard, the joint resolution will be read for a second time on the next legislative day. ____________________

While the junior Senator from Kentucky is on the floor, I want to make sure the American people know the answer to the question my friend from Illinois asked him--who was President the last time there was not only a balanced budget but a…