I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Immigration Reform

Madam President, I just left the address of President Calderon to the joint session of Congress in the House of Representatives. I think President Calderon's speech to Congress and to the American people was important and timely and really…

Mr. President, at the risk of a real debate, I invite the Senator from Georgia to stay, if he would, for a moment so we can engage.

Mr. President, what is the order of business before the Senate? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Merkley amendment is pending.

I announce that the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Specter) is necessarily absent. The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 57, nays 42, as follows: [Rollcall Vote No. 158 Leg.] YEAS--57 Akaka Baucus Bayh Begich Bennet Bingaman Boxer Brown (OH)…

I thank my colleague from Georgia. It depends on one's perspective. The amendment he just described that he added to the bill is a valuable part of this bill. It wasn't there originally. It is now. I am glad it is. I am happy to support…

Mr. President, I rise today to commend and thank Senators Dodd and Shelby for their extraordinary leadership and tenacity in shepherding this complex bill through the arduous floor consideration process over the past several weeks, and for…

I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd), the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman), the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Specter), and the Senator from Virginia (Mr. Warner)…

I have the highest respect for the Senator from Georgia personally, and I thank him for his support on my interchange amendment. We have worked on many other issues, and we will in the future. I will concede what he pointed to as a…

Mr. President, I stand in support of the Merkley amendment. This is an effort by Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Carl Levin of Michigan to try to strengthen the bill that is before us on Wall Street reform; to try to minimize the types of…

I thank the Senator from North Carolina for her leadership. These are truly the bottom feeders of the credit industry in America.

I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd), the Senator from Arkansas (Mrs. Lincoln), and the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Specter) are necessarily absent.