I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 17, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. subcommittee on clean air…

I ask unanimous consent that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery and Intergovernmental Affairs of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 17…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 17, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I guess we are technically still talking about our reauthorization of the SBIR and STTR Programs. Senator Snowe and I have been working through the week to manage this bill on the floor, and I wish to again say how pleased I am with the…

I would like to speak for about 10 minutes. I know Senator Bingaman is on the floor, and maybe other Members are coming to the floor to talk on other subjects. ____________________

I thank the Senators for their discussion of that amendment. I wish, before Senator Udall leaves, to correct one thing for the record. As the manager of the Small Business Innovation Jobs bill, which the Senator was so helpful to us in…

I might note that Senator Johnson's committee has jurisdiction over the amendment Senator Udall spoke about. The Banking Committee has the jurisdiction, not the Small Business Committee, which is one of the concerns I have. The PRESIDING…

Thank you, Mr. President. That now puts us in order to continue the discussion of our very important bill that Senator Snowe and I have been managing this week on the floor. I appreciate all the Members' cooperation, particularly the…

I am happy to report and respond through the Chair that a Member of the Senate has put a hold on parliamentary procedures that would allow us to move forward on any amendments, the Senator should be aware. So we are unable, at this time…

I thank the Senator from Georgia for coming to the floor to participate in the debate. I have a different view on the amendment he spoke on, but we will continue that debate. In fact, we have been debating health care policy in this…

That is the highest number of jobs lost in years, and I will tell you exactly how many. The point is, President Obama was not the President in 2009, January of 2009; he was just sworn in in 2009. He was elected in 2008. So the job losses…

I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Science and Space of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 17, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. in room 253 of the Russell…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 17, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on banking, housing…

I call for regular order now with respect to the McConnell amendment, which is the pending amendment on our bill, amendment No. 183, and send a second-degree amendment to the desk. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The McConnell amendment…

I ask unanimous consent to yield back any remaining morning business time, which I think is under 3 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: At the end, insert the following: The provisions of this title…

I wish to thank Senator Cardin for his cooperation. He has been so patient. It is an important amendment. It is an amendment that both Senator Snowe and I support and many other colleagues support it. We hope to get to a time, if not this…

I see we have several colleagues on the floor, and there is another coming down to speak on an amendment. I thank Senator Snowe for her explanation of some of the compromises and changes and modifications the two of us worked on with our…

I ask unanimous that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 16, 2011, from 2-4 p.m. in Hart 216. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Tribute to Frank Buckles

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 16, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 16, 2011. The Committee will meet in room SDG-50 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building beginning at 9:30 a.m…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 16, 2011, at 10:15 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on foreign…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 16, 2011, at 2:30 p.m., to hold a hearing entitled, ``Afghanistan: Progress and Expectations.'' The PRESIDING…

I really appreciate the Senator coming to the floor, and I thank him for his help in advancing this bill and supporting many of the proposals. The ranking member is not on the floor, so until we run this through the other side for review…