I thought we had the first half hour and the Senator's side had the second, but I understand now that it is back and forth. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Utah is recognized.

Madam President, I wish to begin by thanking Leader Reid for his very kind comments regarding the work that is going into this bill. It has been my pleasure and honor to help lead a team, actually, which the Presiding Officer has been a…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 5874, received from the House and is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant…

In part, it says: We also support the LeMieux-Landrieu Amendment incorporated into the bill, which would establish a $30 billion Small Business Lending Fund. . . . As the nation's fragile economic recovery continues, households are still…

For whatever reason, I don't know why. I think maybe they think that is good politics. But I don't believe it is, and I don't think most Americans, even Republicans, would think that is good politics.

Exactly. I mean, I don't know how you explain to teenagers. There really is no explanation. I think it is shameful and we need to fix it. The Senator should know that is what we are trying to do. Again, I don't know what we can do about…

I understand, under a previous order, I have the next hour to follow up on Senator Durbin's comments. I would like to claim that hour now. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is recognized.

I think the Senator has assessed it correctly. But we have worked in a bipartisan fashion through both the Finance Committee--and I see the Senator from Montana, the leader of that committee, is here--and through the Small Business…

Mr. President, I am still hopeful we can find a way forward. Many things in life are worth fighting for and this bill is one of them. I did not know if we would have to fight 12 hours and a few days or 12 hours and a month. But we are…

I thank the Senator for raising that. Although it was not said publicly, I have been told privately that there is some strong objection on the Republican side for including that. I said I thought it was a bipartisan amendment, but if it is…

The farmers are an important constituency. They have broad-based support. So that is on this bill. That is it; the bill as it came out of Finance, the bill as it came out of Small Business with those two amendments--one put in by the…