I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois and thank him for his persistent advocacy on this issue. Senator Durbin was one of the people in public leadership who said we have to really address this as we approach the 49th anniversary…

this is time for both Republicans and Democrats to speak. We invite our Republican colleagues to come and speak. Even within the Republican Party, we know there are those who agree with us and those who do not. For those who agree, we…

I wish to yield time to the Senator from North Carolina, Mrs. Hagan. Senator Hagan is a freshman Senator, but she is certainly not new to this issue. Both in North Carolina's legislative body and in the Senate her work has always been for…

I now yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Delaware, Mr. Coons. The women of the Senate welcome those men who stand with us on this very important battle, and Senator Coons has been an outstanding advocate on this and other economic…

I note the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.

I thank the Senator from New Hampshire. Now I would like to yield the floor for 7 minutes to our colleague from California, Senator Boxer. She and I served in the House. We serve in the Senate. We have been fighting this for a long time…

there will be other Democratic Senators speaking during this time. I thank Senator Murray because she has been a real champion on this issue. She has been a champion on making sure women are treated with respect in the workplace and in the…

might I ask the parliamentary situation? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There is now 30 minutes under the control of the Republicans. The Senator from Arkansas.

I now yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Louisiana, who chairs the Small Business Committee and really knows the impact of the economic issues related to the empowerment of women. She has worked on a bipartisan basis on this issue…

I yield the floor. Has all time expired on the minority side? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes.

I come to the floor today to urge my colleagues to affirmatively and unabashedly vote for cloture on the Paycheck Fairness Act that we wish to bring before the Senate. This is part of a very long march the women of the United States of…

I rise in opposition to the McCain amendment No. 2107. I appreciate the intent of Senator McCain to make lower cost drugs available to the American people, but I have many flashing lights about this amendment. I bring this from knowledge…

I applaud the effort underway between the FDA and industry to develop a transitional pathway for the regulation of emerging diagnostic tests. In addition, I am pleased that the FDA expressed its commitment to work with industry on this…

first I thank my colleague from Oklahoma. I just want to take a few minutes, if I could, to talk about an important issue.

I say to our colleague from Oklahoma, himself a physician, that he will be very keenly interested in this issue of prescription drug shortages. This is a problem that has been brought to my attention by Marylanders, leaders of great…

I come to the floor to lend my voice to asking my colleagues to vote for the motion to proceed to the FDA Safety and Innovation Act. Like the Presiding Officer, who is from Delaware, where its excellent private sector and public sector…

I ask unanimous consent that the call of the quorum be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Coons). The Senator from Maryland.

I really want to thank you for this wonderful report that you put out on the health care delivery system.

I was assigned quality, which really goes to prevention, I think.

Maybe we could hear the answer to two questions later. First, could they have done this if we had not passed the Affordable Care Act?

Senator Kennedy, throughout his wonderful career, was focused on access to make sure Americans had access to health care.

I am so proud to be here on the floor of the Senate to support the nomination of Judge George Russell III. He is nominated to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and he has the enthusiastic support of Senator Cardin and…

I hope the Committee moves his renomination in an affirmative way and expeditiously.

He wants to be on the Commission, and I hope you confirm him too.

Good morning, Chairman Rockefeller and Senator Hutchison.