we gather on the floor of the Senate at an unusually early hour. In fact, the Senate has been in session all night. The question before us is the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of Education. It is possibly the most controversial…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Alexander). Without objection, it is so ordered.

let me say at the outset that I am glad I was here for the statement made by the Senator from South Carolina. We disagree on many things. We agree on things as well. I respect him very much and turn to him often to find bipartisan support…

I announce that the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) is necessarily absent. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 52, nays 47, as follows…

I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Carper) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 53, nays 45, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No…

there is a provision in the law which allows the Congress to review regulations within 60 days after they are written and decide up or down. That is what we are doing here. This is about the stream rule that has a direct impact on mining…

I listened carefully this morning to the statement made by the Republican majority leader, and I was a little bit curious as to what he was trying to say because he talked about a judicial nominee who rated unanimously ``well qualified''…

during my time in the Congress, I have had the privilege of visiting many other nations, often fragile or new democracies struggling to meet the needs of growing numbers of youth and emerging middle classes. For example, many of the…

I was necessarily absent for the votes on the motion to proceed to legislative session and the motion to procced to a joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior known as the Stream Protection Rule…

I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gardner). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 52, nays 47, as follows…

I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 56, nays 43, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No. 36…

I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Toomey). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 55, nays 43, as follows…

I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 53, nays 44, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No. 38…

I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Coons) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Johnson). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 54, nays 44, as follows…

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Rex Tillerson of ExxonMobil has been nominated to be our Secretary of State. We are going through a procedural 30 hours of debate, moving to that issue. As we can tell, many speeches are being given…

the Senator from Wyoming from the other side of the aisle is my friend. We spend time in the gym together; I go there regularly--for no apparent reason. But we are friends, and we disagree on some political issues. I just wish to clarify…

what is the issue before the Senate? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Tillerson nomination.

this is the 11th day of the Trump Presidency. To say that these have been tumultuous days is certainly an understatement. What happened over this past weekend really was unsettling to many people all across the United States. Candidate…

I announce that the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. Heinrich) is necessarily absent. (Disturbance in the Visitors' Galleries.) The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sergeant at Arms will restore order in the Senate. The Galleries will remain quiet. The…

it was 16 years ago when I introduced the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act was a response to a call I received in my office. A young woman had been brought to the United States as an infant, at the age of 2, from Korea. She lived in the United…

I was listening carefully to the comments made by my colleague from West Virginia. I thank her for coming to the floor and expressing her feelings about the Affordable Care Act. It is truly an article of political faith on the Republican…

today, I voted against Representative Pompeo's confirmation as Director of the CIA. His changing statements on the use of torture leave me no choice. His written answers to the Senate Intelligence Committee, saying that he will consult…

I announce that the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Blumenthal) and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Moran). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result…

The Democratic side yields back all time. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. All time has expired.

I announce that the Senator from Virginia (Mr. Kaine) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 89, nays 8, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No. 31…