today the Senate is expected to confirm four additional judicial nominees. With these votes, we will have confirmed 61 article III nominees this Congress. I want to note that in the first session of the 112th Congress we have now confirmed…

Thank you, Madam Chairman, for holding this very important hearing.

I believe the Court should no longer remain isolated from the average Americans who bear the real-world consequences of its decisions.

I say thank you to the managers of the bill for helping us with this very important amendment.

there currently is no cap at all on the amount taxpayers will reimburse contractor employees for compensation except for just a handful of executives, and that limit is already too high at $693,951. That is far above what the chief…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ATF Fast and Furious Operation

at a time when the national security budget is under immense pressure, it is vitally important that we spend our defense dollars more wisely. The Boxer-Grassley amendment will contain runaway spending in contractor salary reimbursements…

For anybody interested in how long I might be, I would say roughly 10 minutes. Mr. President, for nearly a year, I have been investigating the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' operation known as Operation Fast and…

I would like to associate myself with the remarks that Chairman Baucus made about how this affects people at the grassroots of America.

I rise to inform my colleagues that I am placing a hold on H.R. 3012, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. This bill would eliminate the per-country numerical limitations for employment-based visas and increase the numerical cap…

Thank you for your forthright recusal and thank you for the gentlemanly conversation you had with me on that subject.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And thank you, witnesses.

I ask permission to speak for 20 minutes in morning business, but it will probably be less than that.

when the Congress passed the health care law, it imposed a mandate on individuals who lacked health insurance to purchase it. Since then, a number of courts have held that the individual mandate exceeds the power of Congress to regulate…

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Christopher Droney, of Connecticut, to be…

since the Senate last convened, I have learned of the loss of a brave Iowan who was defending freedom overseas. Marine Corporal Zachary Reiff was wounded during combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan and later succumbed to his…

I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Manchin). Without objection, it is so ordered. Constitutionality of PPACA

I would like to alert my colleagues that I intend to object to any unanimous consent agreement for the consideration of S. 1793 or its companion, H.R. 2076, the Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2011. Unless changes are…

I am pleased the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the arguments in three cases challenging the constitutionality of the health care reform law Congress passed 2 years ago. I appreciate that the Obama administration asked the Supreme Court…

I appreciate the kind words of the Senator from Louisiana. Likewise, it is a pleasure not only to work with her, but the two of us have been able, on most foster care and adoption issues, to find a broad coalition of Senators. Many people…

because of the attack against Congresswoman Giffords, there has been some legislation introduced for more gun control. We are going to have to take a good look at that piece of legislation, as we have unanimously passed legislation after…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. National Debate on Gun Control

Instead of simply cursing the darkness that I know envelops your life because of the losses that you have sustained, the injuries you have sustained as well, but instead you are trying to light a candle, and that is a noble thing.

Gun violence is irrevocable and tragic, but it seems even less understandable when there is a chance that it could have been prevented.

In each of these scenarios, law-abiding citizens who were subject to life-changing circumstances not of their own fault could lose their Second Amendment rights.