I ask unanimous consent that from Friday, December 21 through Thursday, December 27, the majority leader be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

I ask that the McCaskill-Blunt amendment which is at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be made and laid on the table with no intervening action or debate, and any…

First of all, I appreciate the Presiding Officer filling in on an emergency basis to preside. It is not often we get one of the senior Members of the Senate to preside and I am grateful. It makes it so much easier on everyone else. I ask…

I further ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statement be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING…

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 7:19 p.m., adjourned until Monday, December 24, 2012, at 12 noon…

I now ask we proceed to H.R. 6364. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 6364) to establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of…

I now ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore of the Senate, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make…

if this weren't such a serious situation we face ourselves, it would be laughable. Can anyone imagine saying we should defeat a bill we have already defeated? We voted on the proposal at the same time we voted to pass that protecting…

I have a unanimous consent agreement. If everyone would be patient, we have two votes. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, after consultation with Senator McConnell, the Senate…

we have a lot more work to do. This will be the last vote of the day, the one coming up. ____________________

we have been able to work things out, I hope, to everyone's satisfaction. We are going to have a rollcall vote early in the day on Thursday. It will be at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. It will be in relation to the FISA bill or the supplemental…

I ask unanimous consent the Armed Services Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1339 and we now proceed to this matter. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the bill by…

I ask unanimous consent that the Veterans' Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of following nomination: PN 2024; that the nomination be confirmed; the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 834, 835, 877; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon…

I ask unanimous consent that with respect to the consideration of the FISA bill, the text for each of the amendments in order under the previous agreement is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate following a vote on the Senate Floor on December 21, 2012. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

I ask unanimous consent that the Vitter substitute amendment which is at the desk be agreed to, the bill as amended be read a third time and passed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table, and any statements be…

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to H.R. 1845, which was received from the House. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 1845) an act to provide a…

I ask unanimous consent that the Vitter- Brown of Ohio amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to, and the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and all statements relating…

I rise to recognize with great appreciation one of my longest-serving and loyal staffers, Marge Van Hoove. It is hard to imagine that this day would come, but she has earned a restful retirement from public service. In January 1987, I had…

I ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be withdrawn: Nos. 3396 and 3398. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding cloture having been invoked, at a time to be determined by the majority leader, after consultation with the Republican leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 510, H.R…

I hope we can too, but this is really quite remarkable. I am told that Members from this body went and talked to the Republican caucus yesterday saying: Send us your plan B, and the Democrats will take care of it and send you back…

last night the House of Representatives proved what we have known for quite a while: Speaker Boehner's plan to raise taxes on 25 million middle-class taxpayers while handing out $50,000 bonuses to millionaires and billionaires was dead on…