The Senator is absolutely right. I think when those rules were promulgated, the view was they would be done routinely and that there would never be a challenge to the action taken. The action is going to conference, appointing conferees…

Under current policy, the motion to proceed has to be approved before anyone can offer any amendments. My friend from Alabama is talking about amendments. We cannot offer any amendments until we get the bill to the floor. So the majority…

I can tell my friend from New Mexico, that is happening today. I have talked to people in Maryland who are very reluctant to put their names forward because they do not want to put their families and themselves through the uncertainty. Let…

I ask my colleague--I daresay most people in this country do not know what a motion to proceed is all about. They do not realize the majority leader cannot bring a bill. A bill might be reported. We might have a farm bill or a Defense…

I thank the Senator for raising the issue. Let me tell people what happens all too frequently in this body. The President will nominate a person to be at a Cabinet-level or sub-Cabinet-level position that requires confirmation of the…

The Senator from New Mexico has been the one who has brought this to us, and I know he has included others and certainly Senator Merkley has been in the forefront of this. The Senator from New Mexico has taken a real leadership role and he…

I probably am in a position that most of the Members of this body are not in. I have served on one conference committee--I have been here 6 years--and it was a successful conference committee. It dealt with the payroll tax extensions and…

It has nothing to do with information not made available. It has everything to do with obstructionism.

it is indeed unique that on New Year's Eve we are in session. We still have some very important business we need to take care of for our Nation. We should not have put our country in this position. We should have acted well before December…

I would like to pay tribute to the Senators who will not be returning when the 113th Congress commences next month. I have already spoken about Senator Kyl and about Senator Inouye, one of the truly great Americans and giants of this…

I call up the Cardin amendment that was made in order, amendment No. 3393. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Maryland [Mr. Cardin], for himself and Ms. Landrieu, proposes…

this amendment is totally noncontroversial. In the bill, they increase the surety bond limits for small businesses from $2 million to $5 million. It was an amendment I worked with Senator Landrieu on in the Small Business Committee. It was…

Fine. I know of no further requests for time and I am prepared for a vote. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is on agreeing to the amendment.

I have no further debate. I am prepared to let it go on a voice vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there any further debate on the amendment?

Senator Kyl is absolutely right. I get my best information from Myrna as to what is going on in the Senate. So I appreciate his comments. Hungary

as the Senate chair of the Helsinki Commission, I have a longstanding interest in Central Europe. For many years the Helsinki Commission was one of the loudest and clearest voices to speak on behalf of those oppressed by communism and to…

I ask unanimous consent that Janet Jacqueline Emanuel, a fellow in Senator Mark Udall's office, be granted the privilege of the floor for the remainder of the Senate's session of the 112th Congress. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

before Senator Kyl leaves the floor, I would like to join the Republican leader in congratulating him on his public service. He and I came to the Congress the same year, after the 1986 elections--we are part of the 100th Congress--and we…

I think it is important in the next Congress that we have full committee discussions on the State Department Authorization Act.

I know that I am going to be interested and I think all the members of the committee are going to be interested as to how you institutionalize that review that goes beyond just specific threats.

But this was also the anniversary of 9/11. There was a lot of reasons to believe----

The Benghazi attacks are a stark reminder that we cannot overrely on the certainty or even likelihood of warning intelligence.

We also understood there was not adequate security at the Benghazi facility based upon the deteriorating circumstances.

I also want to add my congratulations to Senator Lugar for his incredible career.

I join with Senator Hutchison in paying tribute to Senator Daniel K. Inouye. I rise to pay tribute to our dear colleague. Senator Inouye was not one of the tallest Senators; in fact, he had a slight build and a quiet demeanor. But he was a…