there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will read the titles of the bills for the second time. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 201) to prohibit the sale, lease…

in the two decades since the Violence Against Women Act passed--it passed with a very strong vote, a bipartisan vote here in the Senate, and then in the House at the time-- incidents of domestic violence have fallen by more than half, by…

with these two bills, I would object to any further proceedings. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard. The measures will be placed on the calendar. ____________________

I am going to have to get used to the President pro tempore presiding over the Senate. That is not the script we have followed for quite a few years. I am very happy to see him here, as usual. Following leader remarks, the Senate will be…

I know that some have raised questions about whether Section 2 of the bill is constitutional under the 27th Amendment, though the legislation does not lower pay but rather withholds it temporarily. Of course, as members of the House knew…

I now ask unanimous consent that we proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 25, which was submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution…

I move to proceed to Calendar No. 1, S. 47. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 47) to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. ____________________

I now ask for a second reading on both these measures, but I object to both these requests on both measures. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard. The bills will be read a second time on the next legislative day…

I now ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m. on Monday, February 4, 2013; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Republican whip. ____________________

we have four more votes. They have all been ordered, just like this one was, as 10-minute votes. We are going to stick with that. If people are not here--whether you have been here for 30 years or 3 days--we are going to close the vote…

I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to S. Res. 24. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res. 24) commemorating the 10-year anniversary of…

just a brief comment on the statement of my friend, the Republican leader. He continues bad-mouthing the recovery. We are in a recovery. The moral of the fourth quarter is a repudiation of the Republican playbook. Growth went down in the…

I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The…

I ask unanimous consent that Natalie Beckman, a fellow in my office, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of calendar year 2013. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

there are two bills at the desk due for their first reading. I ask that those bills' readings take place. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the bills by title for the first time. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

following leader remarks, the Senate will begin consideration of H.R. 325, the debt limit legislation. The time until 12:15 p.m. will be equally divided and controlled. At 12:15 p.m., there will be a rollcall vote in relation to a Portman…

The next rollcall vote will be at 5:30 p.m. on the motion to proceed to the Violence Against Women Act. ____________________

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 6:09 p.m., adjourned until Monday, February 4, 2013, at 2 p.m…

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it adjourn under the previous order following the remarks of Senator Chambliss and Senator Isakson, and they will speak for up to 6 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

Madam president, following leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 2 hours. The majority will control the first half and the Republicans will control the second half. At 2:30 p.m. Senator Kerry will be…

Through the Chair to the distinguished Senator from Oklahoma, the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, as the leader for the Republicans on that committee, he understands the importance of the military and what sequestration…

I rise today to honor John Kerry, our colleague, the senior Senator from Massachusetts. I congratulate Senator Kerry on his confirmation as our Nation's next Secretary of State. I am pleased he will continue to serve his country in this…