last December, Senator Brownback of Kansas and I went to Africa and went to a part of Africa I had never visited before. It is a part most Americans are not familiar with. It is called the Democratic Republic of Congo. We have known of it…

in the past week, the world has witnessed the arrest, the imprisonment, the threatened execution, and eventually the release of a man in Afghanistan named Abdul Rahman. His so-called crime? Apostasy. He was threatened with capital…

first, I commend Senators McCain and Kennedy, who are on the Senate floor. They have really pointed the way for a positive resolution of a problem we have faced for generations in America. The immigration system in our country is seriously…

Mr. Brooks' message was addressed primarily to Republicans and conservatives, but he spells out for all who read it what these immigrant people bring to America. My mother came to these shores in 1911 at the age of 2. Her mother, my…

So it is my understanding, Mr. President, that after I speak for 5 minutes, the Senator from Iowa will be recognized for 15 minutes.

my colleague from Iowa has come to the floor and wants 15 minutes to speak. I ask unanimous consent for 5 minutes and my colleague from Iowa 15 minutes and that morning business be extended the necessary time for that to occur, and an…

let me quote from this: The path to citizenship laid out by the Specter bill-- which is the bill that will come before us soon-- wouldn't be easy. It would take 11 years, a clean record-- no criminal record-- a steady job, payment of a…

only a little over an hour ago, Lane Evans announced he would not seek reelection in November to the U.S. House of Representatives. I understand his decision. It is a loss for his district, for our State, and for America. From the Quad…

yesterday in the Senate Judiciary Committee, there was a historic vote, a vote that relates to an issue America has grappled with almost from the beginning. That is the issue of immigration. It is interesting as we reflect on our history…

I rise today to urge my colleges to support the Homeland Security Education Act. This bill encourages initiatives to increase the number of Americans trained in science, technology, engineering, math, and foreign languages. Our security…

I rise today to introduce common sense legislation that would improve the way we review proposed purchases of American assets by foreign companies and governments. Much has already been said about the prospect of Dubai Ports World taking…

Senator Santorum and I come to the floor today to offer our amendment to increase funding for global AIDS by $566 million, raising the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria for fiscal year 2007 to $866…

if I might ask to be recognized for 3 minutes on the budget resolution now pending. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.

I thank Senator Reid for bringing this sad news to the attention of the Senate family. There are many things that divide us, but there are things that unite us. We are united when Members of our Senate go through personal tragedy. Senator…

The next question I wish to ask the Senator from Pennsylvania, and I appreciate his forthright response, the majority leader, Senator Frist, came to the Senate a few moments ago and said he believed the wiretap program of President Bush…

First, through the Chair, I commend the Senator from Pennsylvania. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he has shown extraordinary leadership in convening two separate hearings on this question of the wiretap issue, the first…

For too long, we have focused this energy debate on where can we drill for more oil. Can we go to a wildlife refuge in Alaska? The honest answer is, all the oil in that wildlife refuge would not provide the energy this country needs for…

in the last few moments, we adopted a resolution which is historic in nature. It relates to the Negro Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues baseball in America. Anyone who loves baseball as I do and followed the great documentary prepared by Ken…

during this President's Day recess, I journeyed to Illinois and made stops in several cities. There were many places to visit, but I chose to visit drugstores. In each one of these towns, large and small, I sought out pharmacists--whether…

at this moment, I wish to address the bill pending before the Senate, and that is S. 2271. I commend Senator John Sununu of New Hampshire, who is here in the Chamber. Were it not for his hard work, we would not be here today. For weeks…

I rise to speak about S. 2271, Senator Sununu's bill to amend the PATRIOT Act. I commend Senator John Sununu of New Hampshire for his extraordinary efforts on this bill. For over 2 years he has been part of a bipartisan coalition, which I…

I commend my colleague for raising this important issue which affects every State in the Union. Of our National Guard in Illinois, 80 percent have been deployed overseas, and more this year. At this point, they have come home to empty…

if the majority leader will withhold completing business for a moment, I wish to have a few minutes to respond.

I thank the leader. Mr. President, I will respond to some comments he made a few minutes ago. First, about the asbestos bill, I think the record speaks for itself. A 393-page bill came to the floor of the Senate. It was a fairly…

I would say to the Senator the same thing I said last week when we engaged in this conversation: For some reason, the Senator--whom I respect very much, and I have said this publicly, and it is not to be construed otherwise--has decided…