Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to S. Res. 368, submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendments to each bill be agreed to en bloc; that both bills, as amended, be read a third time and passed en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the following items en bloc: Calendar No. 234, S. 1794, and Calendar No. 235, H.R. 347. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I announce that the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Conrad), is necessarily absent.

Mr. President, this year's political campaigns are different than just 2 years ago. There is a dramatic infusion of money from so-called super PACs. Now we are starting to learn the identity of those who were behind it. Just yesterday…

Mr. President, for some Members of Congress, 2 years in office is too long. For some Members of Congress, 20 years in office is not long enough. Who should make that decision? The Constitution in its wisdom says the voters of America make…

Mr. President, over the last several months, I put my staff on a little mission. I asked them to identify manufacturing companies in my home State of Illinois that have not only weathered this recession but are doing well and are hiring. I…

Madam President, too many Americans are out of work. We know that. Without a steady income, it is hard for families to stay current on their monthly expenses. We have all talked about the consequences of losing a job. When I meet with the…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 1, 2012, at 10 a.m. in room 432 Russell Senate Office building, to conduct…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia be authorized to meet during…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 1, 2012, at 2:30 p.m., to hold a European Affairs subcommittee hearing entitled, ``Ukraine at…

Pending before the Senate is the STOCK Act, and the purpose is one that I support. It is a bill I cosponsored. The notion behind it is that Members of Congress should not use their public service or information gained in their public…