I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To expand the Operation Hero Miles program to include the…

The question is this. Here is the point. You say in your statement that the current law needs to be reformed.

If your objective is to make sure nothing gets through this Congress, then I understand what you are saying.

I just urge you to be more forthcoming on your recommendations so that we can try to get to where the real problems are.

You have been incredible in pointing out the risk factors and putting a face on it as to the individuals who are impacted.

I would welcome specifics, rather than just saying no, this doesn't work; this doesn't work; this doesn't work.

But if your objective is to defeat legislation, if that is your objective, then I understand what you are doing.

The ideal circumstance is to have the Federal Government provide the blanket protection we need for the Nation.

It is clear in this political environment, the way we get legislation enacted is for both sides to come together.

I strongly endorse her nomination for confirmation.

I had the opportunity to visit Slovakia in 2009. It was a great opportunity for me to meet with representatives of a country that is a close ally of the United States. Slovakia and the United States share strong ties thanks to the heritage…

tomorrow, Veterans Day, our Nation will pay our respect and honor to the men and women who have served in our military. I know we say this frequently, but every day we should honor the men and women who have served our Nation in uniform…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Veterans Day

If my colleague will yield, we had a strong bipartisan vote on the floor on this issue. He is exactly right. All States in this country will benefit from it. Illinois is a State that also receives pollution from other States. Pollution…

earlier today in the Environment and Public Works Committee--the Presiding Officer was at that meeting-- something unusual happened. We had a major bill that will extend the Highway Surface Transportation Act for 2 years, passed by a…

I rise today to introduce the Hotels for Heroes Act. Next week is Veterans Day and we owe it to our military men and women to support them every day but especially in their time of need. Today, military families are facing enormous…

later this month, the special joint committee will be issuing its recommendations. The special joint committee was set up for us to get recommendations on dealing with our economic problems and our budget deficit. I wanted to share with my…

The United States, particularly in the AID programs, has to have a very strong position on anticorruption, women's rights, those issues. Because if not, then what do we stand for?

I think this is an extremely important area for us to explore. Obviously, we need to do a better job ourselves in our relationships with Africa on trade.

China is interested in their own goals and has very little concern about the governance issues in the countries that they deal with.

I think that is the most important thing we can do is enhance our own relationship with the continent of Africa.

If we had more ties and there were more avenues for us to be able to exercise our influence, then we could have a better way of dealing with the type of relationships with China that are counterproductive with good governance.

With that, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

I ask unanimous consent that during this debate, all time that elapses during quorum calls be equally charged to both sides of the debate. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 19, 2011, at 2:30 p.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…