I ask unanimous consent the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2867. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant legislative…

I now ask for a second reading and, in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection having been heard, the bill will be read for the second time on…

I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask 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 (H.R. 1633) to establish a temporary…

I ask unanimous consent, pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011, that following morning business on Tuesday, December 13, the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of the following joint resolutions proposing a…

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it adjourn under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 7:23 p.m., adjourned until Tuesday, December 13, 2011, at 10 a.m. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, Tuesday, December 13, 2011; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the…

I ask unanimous consent that John Daley, a detailee with the Foreign Relations Committee from the State Department, be granted floor privileges for the consideration of the Eisen and Aponte nominations. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore…

I enter a motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The motion is entered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the President will be immediately notified of the Senate's action…

also under partisan assault this month is a Democratic proposal to grant a $1,000-tax decrease on working families. Senate Republicans have blocked four proposals to protect middle- class pocketbooks. Every hour they delay and every day…

today the Senate will vote on two nominations: those of Norman Eisen to serve as Ambassador to the Czech Republic and Maria Carmen Aponte to serve as Ambassador to El Salvador. These two Ambassadors are in their positions as we speak…

following leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 4:30 this afternoon. Following morning business, the Senate will be in executive session to consider the nominations of Norman Eisen to be Ambassador to the…

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the third time and passed, that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any related statements be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING…

I am saddened to have learned this morning that five people were killed late yesterday in the terrible helicopter crash just a few miles outside Las Vegas. My sympathy is with the families of those who died, including pilot Landon Nield…

I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland Security Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2061 and the Senate proceed to its consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will…

this will be the last vote of this week. We will have a couple of votes on Monday night. I will announce later as much of the schedule as I am able to do. Right now, I can't do that, but I will before the day is out. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

shortly the Senate will vote on the confirmation of Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Again, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. I stress ``consumer.'' By now we all know my Republican colleagues will…

following leader remarks, the Senate will be in executive session to consider the nomination of Richard Cordray to be Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. At 10:30 a.m., there will be a cloture vote on the Cordray…

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m. on Monday, December 12, 2011; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be…

there will be at least two rollcall votes at 5:30 p.m. on Monday in relation to the Eisen and Aponte nominations. Next week, we have additional nominations we expect to consider, and we have to do either a CR or an omnibus spending…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate concur in the House amendment, that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements related to the measure be printed in the Record. The…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 1974. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 1974) to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to…

I ask unanimous consent the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived in each instance; that on Monday, December 12, at 4:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations concurrently: Calendar No…

I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any related statements be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent we proceed now to a period for morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each until 6 o'clock this evening. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to consideration of H. Con. Res 86, which was received from the House. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution of title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A…