I do want to comment on the Vitter amendment and then be able to have the Senator from New Hampshire speak. But before the leader leaves, I want to express my condolences to the Mullins family for what happened. It is a little hard to get…

I know my colleague wishes to speak, but I have a matter to dispose of. I ask unanimous consent that the Murray amendment No. 772 be withdrawn. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the amendment is withdrawn.

I oppose this amendment. First, it is a budget buster. To enforce this will take enormous amounts of resources. You cannot be sure that that drug coming from Canada is not a counterfeit, lethal death drug. You don't have any enforcement…

I wish to thank Chairman Kohl and Senator Blunt for their hard work on this bill. They had to make tough choices because of their tight allocation. I commend them for the choices they made and agree with them. They have my full support for…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 20, 2011, at 2:30 p.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 20, 2011, at 10 a.m., to hold a hearing entitled, ``U.S. Military Deployment to Central Africa.'' The…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 20, 2011, at 8 a.m. in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 20, 2011, at 2:15 p.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 20, 2011, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Housing Finance Reform: Continuation…

We will turn it over to that higher power. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.

You were the Chair of the Judiciary Committee, so you are well versed on the patent issues. Why don't we turn it over to the leadership and see how it turns out.

I remember that very well. I remember it was enormously controversial. It was significantly confusing, and there was much to be said on both sides. I believe somebody missed a filing deadline by 24 hours.

But Delaware is next door, and we share the Chesapeake Bay and a whole lot of chicken farms, so that is OK. I want to advise the Senator that his amendment 810 is pending, and I believe the leadership is negotiating on which group of…

Thank you very much. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas. Amendment No. 750

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on October 20, 2011, at 10 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business meeting…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on October 20, 2011, at 2 p.m., in…

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 October 20…

what I wish to suggest as a way of proceeding, with the concurrence of the other side, is the Senator modify his amendment, because that is quick. Then we will go to the Senator from Idaho. Then I have some rebuttals to some of the…

I want to thank the Senator from New Mexico for his comments regarding the U.S. Trade Representative and the work of the U.S. Trade Representative's Office. We do have to fight unfair and even predatory trade practices. In his cogent…

the American people are watching this and saying: What are they doing? Well, actually we are doing a lot. Senator Blunt and I are managing the bill. You might say: But there is nothing going on. Well, there is a lot going on because we are…

the Senator from Missouri is right. We haven't had a regular order for some time. Leadership on both sides of the aisle has created this fantastic opportunity. We are actually following a regular order on our appropriations. We are…

I would advise the Senator that we are waiting for one of the Senators to come and offer an amendment, if he wishes to speak on another subject.

We are alternating back and forth, so we will go to Senator Sessions and then Senator Udall.

Then we will go to the Senator from Colorado for his comments. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.

I want to associate myself with the remarks of my colleague from Maryland regarding the nomination of Mr. Boarman. My colleague from Maryland has offered a spirited and comprehensive description of why Mr. Boarman should be confirmed as…