I would like to speak in morning business, and I would like to respond to several things said by the Republican leader of the Senate. The first relates to Caitlin Halligan, who is a nominee to serve on the DC Circuit Court. The DC Circuit…

I come to the floor today with a sad story for my colleagues. On the day after Thanksgiving, a young man named Joaquin Luna committed suicide in the town of Mission, TX. This is a picture of Joaquin Luna with his mother--a handsome young…

can the Acting President pro tempore notify me in what stage we are in the proceedings? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There is 28\1/2\ minutes left for the majority in morning business, followed by 30 minutes for the minority in…

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record as follows: S. 1945 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives…

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record as follows: S. 1945 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives…

I do not think that that kind of conclusion is in the spirit of what we call democracy.

I announce that the Senator from Iowa (Mr. Harkin), the Senator from Louisiana (Ms. Landrieu), the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Merkley) and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Rockefeller) are necessarily absent.

today is World AIDS Day, a time for us to reflect on one of the worst plagues the world has experienced. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the first appearance of the disease in the United States. For three decades this…

I wish to thank my colleagues, Senators Graham and Levin, and particularly Senator Feinstein for working so hard to come to an agreement on section 1031. I was concerned that the United States would, for the first time in the history of…

I thank my colleague from Missouri, and I concur with his comments about our American military. We have the best in the world. These men and women serve us well with courage and honor every day, and we are fortunate to have them. We are…

let me say at the outset what an extraordinary job my colleague from California has done. There was a time in American history, before law schools, when people read the law and practiced the law. The Senator from California has not only…

I understand there are six measures at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bills by title for the first time en bloc. The legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution…

if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 7:40 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, December 1, 2011, at 9:30 a.m…

we expect to complete action on the Defense authorization bill during tomorrow's session. Additionally, the majority leader filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1917, the Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011. If no agreement is…

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2011; that following the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 341 submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The legislative clerk…

I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate a message from the House with respect to H.R. 394. The Chair laid before the Senate the following message: H.R. 394 Resolved, That the House agree to the amendment numbered 1 of the Senate to the…

I want to take a few moments to thank a remarkable woman on my staff. Sylvia Gillespie, in my Springfield office, is retiring after 12 years. When you walk into that office in Springfield, Sylvia is the first person you see, and her smile…

I ask for the second reading and object to my own request en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection having been heard, the measures will be read for a second time on the next legislative day. S.J. Res. 32

I am sorry but she did. The quote: . . . individuals who fought against the United States in Afghanistan as part of the Taliban.

She limits it to that case. If I could make one response and then I will give the floor to the Senator. This is clearly an important constitutional question and one where there is real disagreement among the Members on the floor. I think…

I would say there was some reservation in citing it. I say to the Senator, our difficulty and disagreement is the fact we are dealing with a specific individual captured on the field of battle in Afghanistan with the Taliban.

I want the Senator to respond, but I want to ask point blank, is there an exclusion currently in the law for U.S. citizens under section 1031 and whether or not under 1031 American citizens can be detained indefinitely?

I can tell the Senator there were references in there to the case, but the Supreme Court has never ruled on the specific matter of law which the Senator continues to read. Until it rules, we will make the decision in this Department of…

We are not talking about American citizens being arrested and detained within the United States and being held indefinitely without constitutional rights.