Madam President, I add my voice in support of coming to closure on this important issue. I thank Senator Dorgan and Senator Lincoln for their extraordinary leadership for the Pigford and Cobell claimants. We are very close to settling a…

Mr. President, I wish to discuss a heart wrenching tragedy that occurred in my home State earlier this week and to acknowledge the heroic efforts of our local first responders. On Monday evening, under sweltering temperatures that had…

Mr. President, I rise to speak on an issue that is still pending before this body. Unfortunately, it looks as though we will not be able to wrap this up in the next few hours. It looks encouraging that we may be able to take it up…

I also ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record another very nice article that appeared in the Wall Street Journal by Ruth Simon, one of their reporters, who outlines a particular story about Pinnacle Bank, which is basically in…

Finally, I have another article written by Barbra Barrett of the Miami Herald. It reads: The U.S. Senate might leave town this week without finishing up what Democrats had hoped would be a significant political achievement . . . On its…

She is right. We have worked across the aisle as much as we could. But for some inexplicable reason, we can't seem to get unanimous consent to move such an important and extraordinary bill forward. The small business bill, the Main Street…

Mr. President, I know there are Senators who wish to speak, but I have one more subject to speak about before I yield the floor. In addition to fighting for Main Street, I am going to come back here in September--and continue through the…

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 5283, which was received from the House and is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R…

I ask unanimous consent 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 statement be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Banking Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5872, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The…

I understand the time controlled by the Democrats is coming quickly to an end. I ask for 2 more minutes, if that is OK, to wrap up. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has 5 minutes.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Banking Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5981, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The…