Mr. President, the Senate once again has an opportunity to defend the public's confidence in our democratic system. In July, we missed this opportunity by failing to approve a motion to proceed to the DISCLOSE Act, a vital step in…

Madam President, I have long supported the rights of workers to form unions, and I support the National Mediation Board's new rule allowing those in the rail and airline industries to form a union based on the votes cast by a simple…

I will be glad to do that. So my colleagues want to make sure, if they can, that this doesn't happen. It's going to. You say, why can't we get together? The last months, the last year, all of this has proven the last thing you want to do…

My colleagues on the Republican side want to talk about everything except this bill. I understand that. I think quietly you might admit you are embarrassed to vote against it. You raise the 1099 issue in the health bill. We've brought up a…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 21, 2010, at 9 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is…

Mr. President, ever since an act of horrific violence on a bright blue morning 9 years ago, our Nation has been at war. At home and abroad, this war has tested our Nation, tested our military strength and our diplomatic skill, tested our…

Madam President, I know the Senator from Hawaii has to leave, but before he goes I just wish every American could have heard from a hero not of this body, of this Nation but of the world. Senator Inouye did more than swim against the tide…

I yield the time to the Senator from Connecticut. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.

Mr. President, how much time is on this side? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 12 minutes remaining.

Mr. President, if what the Senator from Florida said is going to occur, it indeed would be a broken system. But the majority leader has said and said publicly that there are many other important matters that both sides of the aisle wish to…

Mr. President, parliamentary inquiry: Are we on the bill now? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate is not on the bill.

Let me read just part of this letter. I am writing to urge the Senate to vote in support of the 2001 national Defense Authorization Act. Each element contained in the legislation that passed the Senate Armed Services Committee is essential…