I listened to the statements made today by the Republican leader about the increase in this fee that is to be paid into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. I would like to ask the chairman of the Finance Committee, currently, the fee is 8…

And the price of a barrel of oil, as of this morning's Wall Street Journal, is $71.99 a barrel?

That is being paid by oil companies into a fund so that if there would be a spill and the oil company responsible couldn't pay for it, they would have at least accumulated enough money to protect the taxpayers----

Twenty-one years ago. I might also ask the chairman of the Finance Committee, it is my understanding that the total value of the current Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is somewhere in the range of $1.5 billion?

I announce that the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Bayh), the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd), the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. Inouye), and the Senator from Arkansas (Mrs. Lincoln) are necessarily absent.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it recess under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 9:53 p.m., recessed until Friday, May 28, 2010, at 10 a.m…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 282, the adjournment resolution, received from the House and at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it recess until 10 a.m. on Friday, May 28; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President of the Senate pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make…

I ask unanimous consent that H.R. 4173, as passed by the Senate on May 20, 2010, be printed. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, and any statements related to the resolutions be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER…