I ask unanimous consent that we move to a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I object to any further proceedings in regard to these matters. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection having been heard, the measures will be placed on the calendar. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that all votes relating to the Defense authorization bill be 10 minutes in duration, including final passage. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Michigan.

As the order that is now before the Senate indicates, I have the ability to designate who will be the speakers. We have 1 minute on one and 1 minute on the other. Those 2 minutes will be used by the senior Senator from Pennsylvania, Mr…

I agree with virtually everything the Republican leader said. I do think the Presidential election will be based on what took place in the Bush administration and how we have tried to recover from that, and how things have been exacerbated…

The reason I ask is that Senator Levin and I have a classified briefing that starts at 5:30. May I ask the Senator how much longer she wishes to speak? It doesn't matter, but just so I have an idea.

I appreciate the time of the Senator from New Hampshire. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire.

So following their colloquy of 10 minutes, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to a period of morning business for 1 hour; that following that we go back to the Defense authorization bill. There will be no more votes this evening…

We will continue working through the pending amendments. Senators Levin and McCain are managers of this bill, and Senators will be notified when votes are scheduled. There was a little void here from 10:30 until the vote. That will be…

I now withdraw my motion to proceed. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The motion is withdrawn.

I have a cloture motion at the desk. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The cloture motion having been presented under rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion. The legislative clerk read as follows: Cloture Motion We, the…

I rise today to honor Helen J. Stewart, a brave and extraordinary Nevadan who lived during the early days of Las Vegas. On December 3, 2011, there will be a dedication of the statue erected in her honor at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort…

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the joint resolution be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the joint resolution was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S.J. Res. 31 Whereas the labor dispute…

I ask unanimous consent that the text of the joint resolution be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the text of the joint resolution was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S.J. Res. 30 Whereas the labor dispute…

I ask unanimous consent that following the statement of Senator Ayotte of approximately 10 minutes--she has been here long enough that she has learned to keep Senators' time, and 5 minutes really isn't 5 minutes--does the Senator from…

could I ask my friend from New Hampshire to allow me to propose a unanimous consent request?

on one of the Sunday shows, the assistant leader, the Republican whip, my friend, the junior Senator from Arizona, indicated that Republicans would not support the withholding tax proposal we had made. On Monday, that was what the Senate…

I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I now move to proceed to Calendar No. 238, S. 1917. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the motion. The legislative clerk read as follows: Motion to proceed to S. 1917, a bill to create jobs by providing payroll tax…

Republicans love to talk about taxes. They like them low, we like them high--or so they would have you believe. By that logic, Republicans ought to be lining up to support our payroll tax legislation. Democrats propose we cut taxes for 160…

following leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 10:30 a.m. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 1867. The filing deadline for second-degree amendments to the Defense bill is 10:30…

I rise today to introduce the Girls' Protection Act of 2011. This legislation addresses a topic that is difficult to talk about. It deals with the issue of female genital mutilation, FGM, a harmful cultural ritual with origins in Africa…

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

I am told S. 1917 is 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. 1917) to create jobs by providing payroll tax…

since there is bipartisan support, why do we need a rollcall vote? Do we have to have a rollcall vote? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The unanimous consent agreement requires 60 votes.