as I just mentioned, today we hope we can act on two vital pieces of legislation. On this side of the aisle, as we say, we are ready to move. We want to move to a measure to restore earned retirement pay to our Nation's heroes--retirees of…

it is encouraging that some of my Republican colleagues seem to be regaining their grip on sanity this week. Republicans have shown a willingness to compromise to restore veterans' hard- earned pensions. A few reasonable Republicans were…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on February 12, 2014, at 10 a.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``The…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the sessionof the Senate on February 12, 2014, in room SD-628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled…

I now ask unanimous consent that following the series of votes scheduled for 11:30 this morning and the resumption of legislative session, notwithstanding the previous order, the time until 1:45 be equally divided between the two leaders…

I ask unanimous consent that not withstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to…

I move to proceed to calendar No. 301, S. 1982. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the motion to proceed. The legislative clerk read as follows: Motion to proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 301, S. 1982, a bill to…

we are going to have up to four votes starting at 11:30 a.m., and then at 1:30 p.m. we will come back and finish some other business today. We hope to have a lot of votes today. I am aware, as I mentioned last night, we are following the…

I appreciate my friend's understanding of what has happened, and we will have further conversations about this. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 564, 570, 566, and 567--these are district court judges for the District of Connecticut, the Eastern District of…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H. Con. Res. 81 and H. Con. Res. 82 en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent resolutions by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A…

I move to proceed to legislative session. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Heinrich). The question is on the motion. The motion was agreed to. ____________________

I now move to proceed to executive session. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the motion. The motion was agreed to. ____________________

I now move to proceed to legislative session. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the motion. The motion was agreed to. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Energy of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 12, 2014, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office…

I ask unanimous consent that S. 1963 be returned to the calendar. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, two nominations remain to be disposed of.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 358. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res. 358) commending the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Booker amendment to the resolution, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the resolution, as amended, be agreed to; the Booker amendment to the preamble, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the preamble, as…

I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 350 and the Senate proceed to its consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the…

I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by me, with the concurrence of Senator McConnell, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 561; that there be 20 minutes for debate equally divided in the…

I ask unanimous consent that Maj. Leslie L. Semrau, a U.S. Air Force officer, who is currently serving as my defense legislative fellow this year, be granted floor privileges for the duration of S. 1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 12, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. in room 428A Russell Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 12, 2014, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Extreme Weather Events: The…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 12, 2014 at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Fisheries Treaties and Port State Measures…