I strongly endorse the overall concept of not more regulation but smarter, stronger regulation.

reserving the right to object, I will not object. I want to ensure that I will have 10 minutes in support of the Bingaman-Vitter amendment prior to the vote as was promised to me. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana is…

may I inquire to the Chair how much time is remaining. The PRESIDING OFFICER. There are 3 minutes left in support of the Bingaman-Vitter amendment.

I ask unanimous consent that as part of this agreement that I be given 7 minutes before the vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

I rise to strongly support the upcoming Bingaman-Vitter amendment, which is basically an amendment form that Bingaman-Vitter Fair Generics Act would stop an escalating trend in the drug industry which has pay-for-delay deals between a…

I thank the distinguished majority leader very much for this important announcement and this plan. It certainly meets two--

Yes. I have no intention of his losing the floor. I just want to thank him for the announcement. From my perspective, it meets the two main goals we have been in search of: first of all, making sure in the short term there is not a lapse…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be discharged from further consideration of S. 577, the Child Tax Credit Integrity Preservation Act, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that the bill be read a third…

Senator Sessions and I come to the Senate floor today to discuss the Child Tax Credit Integrity Preservation Act, the bill I introduced last year, to address a real problem with IRS enforcement allowing illegal aliens to access the…

I would say, through the Chair, thank you for that clarification. We have exactly the same goal in mind, and I believe this approach of the Vitter bill--the House has already passed this approach recently, and its budget outline actually…

I wish to thank very much my colleague from Alabama for his leadership on the Budget Committee and his leadership on issues such as this. I want to encourage the distinguished majority leader to look at the actual details of the problem…

if I could respond through the Chair. I absolutely agree with the Senator from Alabama. Too often folks in Washington want to make things overly complicated. Some issues debated in the Congress are complicated. Other issues are not…

before the distinguished majority leader has to leave, I would just ask, through the Chair, if we can get some clarification and hopefully come to some consensus, is he suggesting that illegal aliens in the country should continue to…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. Federal Reserve Nominations

I come to the Senate floor to debate and oppose the two Federal Reserve nominees President Obama has sent to the Senate. First, let me say I think it is very important, very good, very healthy that we are having this debate and we are…

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To clarify the requirement that the Export-Import Bank of the…

I now call up Vitter amendment No. 2103, which is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from Louisiana [Mr. Vitter] proposes an amendment numbered 2103.

this amendment is borne of real frustration that a lot of folks have faced over the last few years, particularly in my State of Louisiana. As you know, we have had a rough time, particularly following the BP disaster. First there was that…

this amendment is very simple. It simply says that if we are going to have the U.S. taxpayer, through the Ex-Im Bank, finance and guarantee and loan money to traditional energy projects around the world, maybe we should have the same…

I ask unanimous consent that Sidd Gejji, a detailee from the Commerce Committee, be granted the privilege of the floor during the remainder of the day. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. National Flood Insurance Program

I come to the floor again to urge all of us to join together on a bipartisan basis and to reauthorize the national flood insurance program, to do it now, to do it quickly because time is running out. On May 31 the entire National Flood…

I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record another letter along the same vein addressed to Senator Tester, the subcommittee chair, and myself, the ranking member on the subcommittee, again strongly supporting this effort. Let's…

I keep coming to the floor urging this because it is so important and because it is so achievable. Again, there are not big issues dividing us. This is not a partisan issue. We just need Senate floor time to get it done. In that vein, I…

I ask unanimous consent to also have printed in the Record an op-ed in Roll Call written by two representatives of this broad coalition again explaining the absolute importance and the critical nature of doing this full, longer term…