I have to give a few remarks. They are very short in nature. Then my friend can proceed, but I will maintain the floor for just a few minutes. ____________________

S. 2118 is at the desk and due for a second reading. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the bill by title for the second time. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 2118) to remove unelected, unaccountable…

what we have just gone through is an effort to bring the highway bill to be closer to the end. The amendment I have offered does not have in it the Commerce Committee-reported matter. There has been an effort made by members of the…

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business for the day, it adjourn until Tuesday, February 21, at 12 p.m., and convene for a pro forma session only with no business conducted and that following the pro forma…

Following that morning business, the Senate will proceed to executive session under the previous order. The next rollcall vote, then, will be at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, February 27, on the Brodie nomination. ____________________

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent the Senate adjourn under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 2:27 p.m., adjourned until Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at 12 noon…

Following morning business, we will resume consideration of the matters that will be before the Senate. At a time to be determined, there will be at least two rollcall votes. I am sorry, I will rephrase that. We will have other votes, or…

I have an amendment at the desk. I now ask that the clerk report the amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an…

I ask that further reading of the amendment be waived. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of Amendments.'') ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that we now proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 573 to 606--those are the ones I referred to, the military only--and all nominations placed on the Secretary's desk in…

On behalf of the Republicans, I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that from Friday, February 17, through Monday, February 27, 2012, the majority leader be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The resolution (S. Res. 325) was agreed…

I object to any further proceedings with respect to this legislation. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection having been heard, the bill will be placed on the calendar.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to this matter be printed in the…

Following leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour. The majority will control the first half, the Republicans the second half. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the…

Under the previous order, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their…

I object to any further proceedings with respect to this bill at this time. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard. The bill will be placed on the calendar.

I apologize to the staff and for everyone having to wait, but we have things we have been working on and we have made a lot of headway, a lot of progress. We are still not all the way there, but it appears to me that the House will…

I rise today to recognize the service of the 26th Public Printer of the United States. Bill Boarman led the Government Printing Office, GPO, with distinction over the past year. He has been a tremendous asset to the organization, and we…

I ask unanimous consent that we go 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. ____________________

I understand there is a bill at the desk due for its first reading. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the bill by title for the first time. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 2118) to remove unelected, unaccountable…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate adjourn until 10 a.m. on Friday, February 17, 2012; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, and the time for the two…

I now ask for a second reading and, in order to place the bill on the calendar, object to my own request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The bill will be read for the second time on the next legislative day. ____________________

there could be up to four votes. If things don't work out, we will have to have some of the votes later in the week, so we hope that can come to be. We will notify Senators the minute we have some way of moving forward with everything. The…