I have an amendment to my instructions at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Illinois [Mr. Durbin] proposes an amendment numbered 3501 to the…

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be. The yeas and nays were ordered. Amendment No. 3501 to Amendment No. 3500

Mr. President, tonight cloture was filed on the motion to concur with respect to the legislative vehicle for the HIRE Act. The cloture vote will occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the committee substitute be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating…

I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd) and the Senator from Missouri (Mrs. McCaskill) are necessarily absent. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Merkley). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The result…

I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd) is necessarily absent. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The yeas and nays resulted--yeas 66, nays 33, as follows…

Mr. President, there have been a lot of issues brought up on the floor of the Senate recently, and two that seem to be front and center are the health care reform bill and questions related to our national debt and the annual deficits we…

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed; the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate; and any statements related to the bill be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 449, submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The assistant legislative clerk read as…

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

I do not quarrel with the Senator from Alabama about our national debt and the threat that it possesses. I certainly understand we are borrowing a lot of money from countries overseas, and we want to see that come to an end. That kind of…

Mr. President, yesterday marked the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day--an occasion that celebrates the many contributions women have made to our communities, societies, and nations. Women have made great progress, but the sad…