it is my honor to come to the Senate floor this evening to speak on the issue of the DREAM Act and to have among those in attendance on the floor of the Senate a group of Senators from Mexico who are part of the Mexican-American…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business for debate only until 5 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, and that at 5 p.m. the majority leader be recognized. The PRESIDING…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

2 years ago, I embarked on a legislative mission to pass a bill called the DREAM Act. The purpose of the DREAM Act was to give to young people who came to this country as children, and who were raised in the United States, who have…

I think most of us involved in public life realize that few people meet us and many more people meet those who represent us. That is why if you are a success as a Congressman or Senator or as an elected official, you really have to rely on…

back in the year 2000, my wife Loretta and I went to the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles, and we ran into a young college coed from Illinois. She was a student at Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL--originally from the Twin Cities…

I announce that the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Leahy) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 53, nays 46, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No. 87…

I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The bill clerk continued with the call of the roll.

I mentioned on the floor earlier that I would like to give to my colleague 2 minutes, and then I will take 2 minutes, and that will be it. So I ask unanimous consent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so…

How much time is remaining? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 13 minutes 52 seconds.

I announce that the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) is necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result was announced--yeas 54, nays 45, as follows: [Rollcall Vote…

The National Flood Insurance Program is the primary Federal resource available to help people and communities recover from flood damage.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The resolution (S. Res. 206) was agreed…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to S. Res. 205 submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The bill clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res. 205) designating the period…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 206 which was submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The bill clerk read as follows: A resolution…

if my colleagues are interested in smalltown America, they should be interested in the businesses that operate in smalltown America, and they are begging us to vote no on the Tester-Corker amendment. I happen to live in a town of 120,000…

I understand I have 2 minutes? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has 2 minutes.

I thank my colleague from Wyoming. Our relationship and friendship has been growing over the years. I respect him so much as one of the real voices of retailers and small business. I had an opportunity to spend some time visiting China…

the groups that stand behind me on this effort know what we are up against. When we take a look at the most powerful special interest groups in Washington, we have to put the banking industry near the top, if not on the top, of the ladder…

this afternoon there will be a critical vote that will take place on the Senate floor. It is one of the most controversial, business-oriented votes that we have faced. Leading up to this vote has been one of the most heated debates and…

I ask unanimous consent that Senators be allowed to speak as in morning business for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

if Senator Tester returns to the floor and wants to speak before the vote, I will ask unanimous consent to each have 2 minutes for that purpose. Perhaps he is not going to, but I want to make this a matter of record here because I want to…

I have high regard for the Senator from Montana. He is my friend, and he will be my friend whatever the outcome of the vote happens to be, which will happen in about 40 minutes. But I do disagree with him on this issue. I would like to…

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 9; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed…

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 6:20 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, June 9, 2011, at 9:30 a.m…