I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Economic Policy be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 20, 2011, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Access to Capital: Fostering Job Creation and Innovation…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 20, 2011, at 9:45 a.m. in room SH-216 of the Hart Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``S. 598…

I rise to express my support for the fiscal year 2012 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. As a nation we are dedicated to taking care of our troops, those same troops who deploy into harm's way regardless of…

we are going to move to a debate on our budget deficit, particularly on the debt ceiling we face on August 2. The proposal before us was enacted by the House yesterday on a virtually partisan rollcall, with one or two exceptions. The…

I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 20, 2011, at 2:30 p.m…

I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Personnel of the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 20, 2011, at 2 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

That is correct. And I would say to the Senator from Ohio that when you look back in history, since 1939 when we had this debt ceiling, President after President has extended the debt ceiling because the cost of government--the debt of the…

I thank the Chair. Mr. President, we know as Members of the Senate we are facing a deadline of August 2 for the extension of our debt ceiling. What is it? The debt ceiling is the authority Congress gives to the President to borrow money…

last night the Senate adopted S. Con. Res. 25, a concurrent resolution welcoming the independence of the Republic of South Sudan, congratulating the people of South Sudan for freely and peacefully expressing their will through an…

are we in morning business at this time? The PRESIDING OFFICER. We are.

I know Senator Grassley is waiting and I am going to be brief. I thank him for his indulgence. But when Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio came to the floor to speak of John Glenn, I could not help but stay, and I am glad I did. First, for…

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mrs. Hagan) is necessarily absent.

this morning's Wall Street Journal has a headline which I hope America will pay close attention to: ``Raters put U.S. on notice.'' The United States of America has a credit rating, much as we do as individuals, businesses, and families…

I ask unanimous consent that at 1:20 p.m., the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 2055, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies appropriations bill; further that following the opening remarks of the two…

I rise to speak in morning business. I wish to thank my colleague, the Democratic majority leader, for his opening remarks. He and I have been given an assignment of going to the White House each day to sit down with the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 12, 2011, at 10 a.m. in Dirksen 406 to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Oversight Hearing on the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 12, 2011, at 10 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 12, 2011, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Enhanced Investor Protection After the…

I have been participating in the White House meetings with President Obama and the leaders of the House and Senate from both Democratic and Republican Parties for the last several days discussing the deadline we face of August 2, where we…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Illinois. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security be authorized to meet during the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 12, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Subcommittee on Federal…

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 ``The Power of Pensions: Building a Strong Middle Class and Strong…

I would consider McConnell's offer.

I announce that the Senator from Iowa (Mr. Harkin), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Leahy), and the Senator from Montana (Mr. Tester) are necessarily absent.