reserving the right to object, and I will object, I would point out that the majority has had this nomination pending since May 17 when it was reported out of the Judiciary Committee on a party-line vote. Not only for myself, but I think…

today, the Senate turns to the nomination of William Joseph Baer, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General. If confirmed he will head the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. In considering the confirmation of the…

amendment No. 3348 is about smart government. It is about ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, while at the same time guaranteeing that Federal law enforcement agencies that face challenges following Hurricane Sandy have the…

the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Act, also known as the FISA Amendments Act, is a crucial authority for the U.S. Intelligence Community. Unless we act to pass this legislation, the law will expire…

I would like to speak on an amendment to the pending bill--an amendment I will not be able to offer because I understand the majority filled the amendment tree so that we cannot make amendments pending at this time. So I would like to take…

I think you have assured me in what you just said that, in the future, you will ensure that witnesses know that they are free to make disclosures to Congress that might otherwise be prohibited by the Privacy Act.

My concern is that the Treasury Department is not fully committed to informing Congress about the scope of the problem.

I would like to speak, as many of my colleagues have, about Senator Inouye. When I was a new Senator, the first encounter I had with Senator Inouye was when he invited me to go with him to the University of Hawaii to debate some issue--and…

I will not use my entire time. If anybody else wants to speak, there will be time between now and 5:30 to speak. I think both these nominees will be approved overwhelmingly; obviously, the one with the voice vote probably will be, and I…

would it be appropriate if I ask for a rollcall vote on Judge Durkin? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Manchin.) The clerk will call the roll. The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

last Friday, December 7, 2012, the new United States Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, IA was dedicated. This facility was built to replace the previous courthouse, built in 1932, that was closed due to the extensive flood damage that occurred…

a week ago I visited with my colleagues about the necessity of taking a closer look at the problems of Medicare and taking advantage of the opportunity we have now with the fiscal cliff debate, to bring attention to it because I do not…

Who is in charge of making sure that we find the best solutions for the 100 percent of the population?

We must find better ways to coordinate care and lower the costs for dual-eligibles.

first of all, I had an opportunity to hear what Senator Udall of Colorado had to say about Iowa and my participation, and I thank him very much for his kind remarks. This year Senator Mark Udall is the champion of people speaking about the…

we have been hearing a lot about the so- called Bush tax cuts from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Given the rhetoric being used by some on the other side to describe this tax relief, I would like to take this time to correct…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Bush Tax Cuts

in this day and age, there is simply no denying that our economy is very much a part of a global economy and affected by it. Gone are the days when businesses relied solely on growing their customer base for domestic markets. Today, 95…

there has been a lot of discussion lately about how the Senate is not working properly. This is evident to even a casual observer. On the other hand, to understand how the Senate was intended to work and what has gone wrong requires some…

today, I'm proud to speak in support of the STEM Jobs Act of 2012, a bill passed by the House of Representatives last week. This bill would make available up to 55,000 green cards each year for foreign students who have received doctorates…

the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has the admirable goal of advancing the interests and rights of the disabled across the world. However, I have great concerns about acceding to this convention. I am also…

I yield back all time on this side. The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time has expired. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Paul William Grimm, of Maryland, to be United States District Judge for the District…

today, America faces no greater threat to its growth and prosperity than our uncontrolled national debt. Currently, the country's debt exceeds $16 trillion. We are passing this amount of money on to our children and grandchildren to pay…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. Medicare and Medicaid