last evening in an hour set aside at the request of Senators Pryor and Alexander, a very good conversation took place on the Senate floor. Senators Pryor and Alexander are exemplary in trying to work things out; they are good legislators…

I rise today to honor the achievements of the U.S. Senate Youth Program, USSYP, an organization that has molded some of our Nation's brightest students to become the next generation of public servants. This year marks 50 years of a…

would you state the pending business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pending business is S. 1813, which the clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 1813) to reauthorize Federal-aid highway and highway…

I am told H.R. 1173 is due for a second reading. 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 (H.R. 1173) to repeal the CLASS program.

at the beginning of this month--in fact, February 7--I moved to proceed to the surface transportation bill that is before us today--an extremely important bill, a bipartisan bill. This effort has been led by two fine Senators--one quite…

I call up the Blunt amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] for Mr. Blunt, for himself and Mr. McConnell, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Wicker, Mr…

I will yield. Mr. McCONNELL. We have negotiated the top line for the discretionary spending for this coming fiscal year. That process is normally done by the passage of a budget by the House and a budget by the Senate, with some…

I have spoken to Senator Inouye, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He is beginning, with Senator Cochran, the hearing process where administration officials come in and report to the individual appropriations subcommittees…

I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be waived. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to protect…

I would object to any further proceedings at this time to this piece of legislation. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard. The bill will be placed on the calendar. ____________________

He believed in doing what was right for Nevada, even when it wasn't right for his political party. I admired him and respected him. I respected him even when he and I disagreed, and that happened. But we agreed far more than we disagreed…

following leader remarks, Senator Shaheen will be recognized to deliver Washington's Farewell Address. This is the 150th anniversary of that tradition, and we are very pleased that Senator Shaheen is going to do this. No one could be more…

following the address, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:30 p.m. today. At 4:30 p.m., the Senate will proceed to executive session to consider the nomination of Margo Brodie to be United States District Judge for the Eastern…

last week Nevada lost a great statesman and I lost a friend and mentor. William Raggio was the longest serving State senator in Nevada's history. He died last week while traveling in Australia. My heart is with his wife Dale, whom I spoke…

I now ask that we move to a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak until 2 p.m. for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate resumes legislative session following the vote on confirmation of the Furman nomination, the Senate proceed to the consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 3630; that there be up…

we have about 90 nominations on the Executive Calendar. That is a lot of names--people who have set their lives aside, after having been asked by the President of the United States to do good things for our country. The vast majority are…

I ask unanimous consent that on Monday, February 27, 2012, at 4:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 409; that there be 60 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form…

I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further action on S. Res. 325. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The legislative clerk…

following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 11:00 a.m., with the Republicans controlling the first half and the majority controlling the final half. We will not have the full half hour on each…

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding 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 commissions…

if we could return to Calendar No. 325, S. Res. 379, I ask unanimous consent the action just taken be vitiated. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 325, S. Res. 379. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res. 379)…

we were notified last night that Dr. Heath Morrison, Superintendent of the Washoe County School District--that is Reno and the metropolitan area there--is being named the 2012 Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of…

thanks to bipartisan cooperation, the conference committee reached an agreement to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance. This compromise effort also protects Medicare patients' right to choose the doctors who take care of…