The Public Record
Kent Conrad is a former United States Senator from North Dakota, serving from 1993 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he was known for his work on fiscal policy and budget issues, particularly as the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Throughout his tenure, Conrad advocated for responsible budgeting and was involved in discussions surrounding Social Security and healthcare reform. He played a significant role in shaping policies that impacted both North Dakota and the nation as a whole.
We are very close to being able to move toward final passage, but we still have a number of amendments to dispose of. If we can just have the patience of the body for a few more minutes, we can dispose of these final amendments and move…
No, we are not. We have people looking at that amendment. Could we go to Senator Domenici's amendment?
It is also our understanding that Senator Grassley would not offer his amendment that was the matching amendment to the Lincoln amendment that has now been withdrawn.
If we could ask our colleagues, we know the list that has been put in, and if colleagues who have amendments about to be considered will be closely attentive to what is happening here so we don't have dead time, that would be very helpful…
If it is agreeable to the chairman, I have a report I am supposed to do at the luncheon that is going on. If I could give the time at this point to people, would that be appropriate?
Could we do 4 minutes? Because we have a bit of a time constraint, could we do 4 minutes?
On our side it is Senator Stabenow, Senator Akaka, Senator Lincoln. I should intercede, Senator Vitter will be paired with Senator Landrieu on an amendment for Louisiana.
The debt limit request will be to raise the debt by nearly $800 billion--$781 billion.
Maybe the Senator from Idaho wishes to take some of the remaining time, and perhaps we would have a chance to hear Senator Lautenberg before we vote.
I say to the Senator, this would be the appropriate time for him to make his presentation, and we can go forward with the amendments. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Murkowski). The Senator from Oregon is recognized. Amendment No. 3004
I will be happy to yield. I say to my colleague, would this be an appropriate time to go to Senator Wyden's amendment?
I wouldn't be prepared in 3 minutes to respond to your very excellent presentation over the last 15. It will take me a little bit of time to respond to these things. I do think it is a healthy debate. It will actually, perhaps, save us…
Not anymore. Now we are borrowing from Japan primarily. China is next. Great Britain is third. The Caribbean banking centers are fourth. We owe them $98 billion. We even owe the South Koreans $60 billion. As to our colleagues on the other…
No, I will not. I had a chance to listen and now I will have a chance to answer.
Unfortunately the Senator is completely correct. There is no money in function 920. The Senator is absolutely correct that when we started this process, function 920 was $500 million in the hole. I guess what is even more remarkable is we…
We have an amendment by Senator Wyden, or Senator Byrd, that is next in the queue. I think Senator Wyden is our next amendment, and we will be prepared to go to that.
All time has been consumed. I am prepared to yield back the time on my side on this amendment so we can then go to Senator Murray so she can respond on Senator Santorum's amendment.
Now we will go to the Senator from Pennsylvania for 5 minutes to offer his amendment, and then we will come back to this subject. So I alert the Senator from Florida, we have some time remaining. I yield to the Senator from Pennsylvania…
Let me yield 1 minute to the Senator from Florida, and then we are going to go to the Senator from Pennsylvania for 5 minutes, and then we are going to come back on this amendment. The Senator from Pennsylvania has another obligation, so…
Was the Senator in the middle of his thought that he wanted to complete? Can he do that?
Let me say that Senator Harkin is telling us they do not know yet whether they will be back at that hour. So maybe we can leave that, have the debate tonight, and schedule that vote tomorrow as we know better the information that is of…
Could we ask Members, we are getting a feedback through the system of somebody's BlackBerry. If Members can make sure to check their electronics before they come on the floor. Will the Chair inform us what the order is? The ACTING…
Is it not correct that under the previous understanding, there will be 2 minutes before each vote for a wrapup? That has been our usual practice. That was the unanimous consent agreement previously entered.
Let's make clear, when we say ``all the amendments,'' what we are intending is that all the amendments that are in order to be voted on at this point.
Senator Bingaman wishes to speak on the Cantwell amendment for 2 minutes and then to his amendment.
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