The very fact that the criminals will not subject themselves to a background check provides the kind of prevention.

Criminals will not subject themselves to a background check so they do not go into the gun shops.

What I am trying to get to is this: If you can rationalize a 100-round drum that someone can strap onto a semiautomatic weapon...

I disagree. When you take a look at where these guns come from, 25 percent plus are sold in the surrounding towns around the city of Chicago, not in the city.

I think we all agree--I hope we all agree--that the Supreme Court decision in Heller said we can have reasonable limitations on a Second Amendment right in terms of the type of weapon and the people who own them and the background checks…

The criminals will not go to purchase the guns because there will be a background check.

I believe the business before the Senate is the confirmation of John Kerry as Secretary of State, to which I would like to speak. I actually rise in support of two Senators, one former and one current, as America's Secretary of State. Last…

I would like to acknowledge recently retired Illinois Judge Charles Romani, Jr., who served on the bench for 30 years in Illinois' third circuit. Among many achievements over those years of service, Judge Romani's work setting up a…

it was July of 1911. A boat arrived in Baltimore. It came over from Germany. And among the passengers getting off that boat were a small number of people from Lithuania. They included my grandmother, my aunt, my uncle, and my mom. My…

reserving the right to object, and I will not object, but I ask unanimous consent to follow the Senator from Louisiana to speak. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

several weeks ago, before the end of the 112th Congress, the Senate voted to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy with a supplemental appropriations bill. The $60.4 billion supplemental emergency bill passed in the Senate by a vote of…

I announce that the Senator from Maine (Mr. King), the Senator from Washington (Mrs. Murray), and the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Donnelly). Are there any other Senators in the…

I announce that the Senator from Maine (Mr. King) and the Senator from Washington (Mrs. Murray) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 62…

Reverend Johnny Scott has announced his retirement after 31 years as president of the NAACP East St. Louis Chapter. As a faith leader, businessman, civil rights activist, husband and father, Rev. Scott has dedicated his life to justice and…

I want to take a moment to thank a man that some in my hometown of East St. Louis call a saint and others call ``Reverend Joe'' although he is not a minister. Joe Hubbard is the man you call in East St. Louis when you need help and have…

it has been said in St. Louis, MO, baseball is not a sport, it is a religion. If that is true, Stan Musial was a St. Louis civic patron saint. Stan Musial was an icon in St. Louis. He was the best ballplayer to wear a Cardinal's uniform…

I will accept my colleague from Virginia's kind words with at least an indirect apology for the defamation which he included in his speech suggesting that I was somehow an Ancient Mariner here in the Senate. I wear my trousers rolled but…

I rise today to reintroduce two pieces of legislation: the Know Before You Owe Act and the Fairness for Struggling Students Act. These bills will take critical steps toward addressing the student debt crisis facing America. Every week my…

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it recess until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 23, 2013; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date and the time for the…

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

if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 7:02 p.m., recessed until Wednesday, January 23, 2013, at 9:30…

I ask unanimous consent that the transcript of the inaugural ceremony proceedings for Monday, January 21, be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: Inaugural…

I ask unanimous consent the period for morning business be extended until 4 p.m. today and that all provisions under the previous order remain in effect. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I understand there are two bills at the desk. I ask for their first reading, en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the titles of the bills, en bloc. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 47) to reauthorize the…

I now ask for a second reading, en bloc, and object to my own request, en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The bills will be read for the second time on the next legislative day. ____________________