there was a recent survey of how many families in America have an immediate member of the family who is serving in the military. The number is one of the lowest in history. It turns out the families who actually know someone or have…

last week, the highlight of the Senate was two Republican filibusters. Those are efforts by the Republicans to demand 60 votes for the Senate to take action. It used to be rare. In fact, it was so rare that Jimmy Stewart made a movie about…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate to conduct a hearing entitled ``Tales from the Unemployment Line: Barriers Facing the Long-Term…

I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Water and Power be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, at 2:30 p.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, at 2:15 p.m., in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, at 10 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on Health…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, in the President's Room, at 10:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The Committee…

I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, at 2 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. subcommittee on water and…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 8, 2011, at 10 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct an executive business meeting…

it has been 10 years since I introduced the DREAM Act, legislation that will allow a select group of immigrant students with great potential to contribute to America. The DREAM Act would give these students a chance to become legal in…

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

I would like to make one additional brief statement. I see the Senator from Ohio in the Chamber. The holiday season is upon us, and a lot of us are thinking about our families, and we are thinking about being with them as quickly as we…

another testimony that I thought was extremely compelling came from Alan Morrison. Alan Morrison is an accomplished attorney and has argued many cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is the Lerner Family Associate Dean for Public…

a little earlier today the junior Senator from Utah, Mr. Lee, came to the floor to discuss the balanced budget amendment. Under the budget agreement agreed to in Congress in August, both the House and Senate were required to vote on a…

on behalf of the majority leader, I ask unanimous consent that the time until 2:30 p.m. be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees for debate on the Reid motion to proceed to Calendar No. 251, S. 1944; that at 2:30 p.m…

I announce that the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) and the Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. Kohl) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was…

I announce that the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 53, nays 45, as follows: [Rollcall Vote…

I announce that the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) and the Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. Kohl) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. McCaskill). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result…

experts blame credit default swaps and collateralized debt obligations for the financial crisis. The fact is, these complicated financial products were based on mortgages sold to families who couldn't afford them, credit cards with hidden…

in the school year 2009-2010, the U.S. Department of Education provided $132 billion in grants and loans to students. That was up from $49 billion in 2001--a dramatic increase in Federal aid to education. A large part of the increase can…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. Order of Business

there was a question raised this morning by the Republican leader about where we stand in the closing 2 weeks before the holiday recess. We have a lot of important issues left. One of the most important is the payroll tax cut. Here is what…