I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd) and the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Lautenberg) are necessarily absent.

Madam President, today the Senate confirmed Justice Barbara Keenan to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit by a vote of 99-0. But the vote took place only after an unsuccessful Republican filibuster of her…

Mr. President, keep in mind we have repeatedly offered to the Senator from Kentucky an opportunity for a vote: Bring your approach to the floor. Let the Senate decide. Accept the decision of the Senate, win or lose. That is the most any…

Madam President, I rise to congratulate a well-loved Chicago institution on a landmark anniversary. For 50 years, the Jesse White Tumblers troupe has delighted audiences in Illinois and beyond and opened doors of opportunity for thousands…

First, let me serve notice on the Republican side that I will be making a unanimous consent request about the extension of unemployment benefits so that Senator Bunning or someone else on his behalf will be on the floor if they care to…

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, the Senator, again, is asking that he win without a vote. I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

Mr. President, last night a number of Senators stayed on the floor until almost midnight--I thank the staff and pages for their endurance and patience. This was over an issue that was critically important to our Nation. It is an issue…

Mr. President, earlier this week, the Senator from Kentucky made the same request. The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, said to the Senator from Kentucky: I will give you a chance to come to the floor with your paid-for amendment, fully…

I ask unanimous consent for 2 additional minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

If he has a way to pay for this and wants to offer it as an amendment on the floor, we have given him the opportunity to do that. But for him to say he wants to dictate how this is going to be paid for from sources that, frankly, many of…

I say to the Senator from Oregon that is exactly why I am standing. I didn't plan on doing this. I had a pretty full day down at the Blair House and other places. I believed, by the end of the day, the Senator from Kentucky would agree to…

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn after the statements that have already been noted as part of this request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The…