the hour of 2:30 having arrived, it is my honor and my pleasure to rise to honor a patriot, a pioneer, and now the longest serving woman in the Congress of the United States ever, and that is the senior Senator from Maryland Barbara…

the bill before this body had broad bipartisan support, bicameral in nature. The bill we are considering today is the IPO bill, of course. The bill passed the House by an overwhelming majority. President Obama supports it. I want everybody…

I ask for the yeas and nays on that amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered. Amendment No. 1931 to Amendment No. 1884

I call up amendment No. 1884, offered by Senators Merkley, Bennet, and others. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], for Mr. Merkley, Mr. Bennet, and Mr…

Senator McConnell and I have tentatively worked out something so we will have votes tomorrow, not today. That being the case, we are not under a crunch for time here today. We have a number of Senators here who wish to say something…

I raise a germaneness point of order against the Reed-Landrieu-Levin-Brown of Ohio substitute. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The point of order is well taken and the amendment falls. Amendment No. 1884

I raise a germaneness point of order against the pending Cantwell-Graham amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The point of order is well taken, and the amendment falls.

following leader remarks the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour, with the majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half. Following morning business the Senate will resume…

Thank you Chairman Wyden and Senator Barrasso for the opportunity to address your subcommittee about a bipartisan proposal to facilitate the remediation and redevelopment of a dangerous abandoned mine site near Lake Mead.

Last August, I introduced the Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act of 2011 together with Senator Heller.

Yes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The consent order to this point has Senator Cardin, followed by Senator Boxer, and then Senator Hutchison. Senator Kerry is asking to be recognized.

I have a cloture motion at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion. The bill clerk read as follows: Cloture Motion We, the undersigned…

The official photograph was expected to be today. We will try to do it later this afternoon. We will put everybody on notice about that, and I will consult with the Republican leader about the votes and about the other matters we are going…

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered. Amendment No. 1944 to Amendment No. 1943

for many years now the Ex-Im Bank, which is referred to as the Export-Import Bank, has helped American companies grow and sell their products overseas. For those same years the Ex-Im Bank has enjoyed broad bipartisan support. It was a good…

I ask unanimous consent that there be a second reading of S. 2204. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will read the bill by title for the second time. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 2204), to eliminate…

every morning I go out to do my exercise. This morning I started out the door and there was a crash of thunder and lightning, so I decided to do my exercise inside. When I got into the gym, I could watch TV and I could see these storms in…

I have a motion to refer the House message to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs with instructions to report back forthwith with an amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The bill clerk read as…

I have a second-degree amendment at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment numbered 1941 to amendment No. 1940. The…

I ask for the yeas and nays on my motion. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered. Amendment No. 1941 to Amendment No. 1940

I move to concur in the House amendment to S. 2038, with an amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] moves to concur in the House amendment to S. 2038 with…

will the Chair announce the business of the day? The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. ____________________

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 5:21 p.m., adjourned until Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at 9:30 a.m.

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until tomorrow, March 21 at 9:30 a.m.; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed…

Dr. Keith Rheault has dedicated his entire career to education, including serving in the Nevada education system for more than 26 years. At the end of this month, Dr. Rheault is retiring from his current position as the Nevada…