I made a request, and it is my understanding the Chair has approved that. Is that true? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The leader is correct. ____________________

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be…

Bart Giamatti was a well-rounded man. He was the president of the Yale University and also Commissioner of Major League Baseball. He once called education the ``heart of a civil society.'' But he also said the heart of education is the act…

I ask for a second reading of these four matters en bloc, and I object to my own request en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The bills will be read a second time on the next legislative day. ____________________

before the Chair rules on my consent request, I am told we missed one bill due for its first reading. I ask the clerk to report that bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant legislative clerk read…

I am told there are four bills at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bills by title en bloc. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 2250) to provide…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 294, submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows…

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, October 18; that following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour…

we will work on an agreement with respect to amendments that are pending. There are four or five of them pending now to H.R. 2112. We will notify Senators when votes are scheduled. We would hope we could get some of them out of the way…

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 7:22 p.m., adjourned until Tuesday, October 18, 2011, at 10 a.m…

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

I ask unanimous consent the committee- reported substitute be considered, the Rockefeller and Paul amendments at the desk be agreed to, the substitute amendment be agreed to, and the bill as amended be read a third time and passed, the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 96. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 275) to amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for…

notwithstanding the previous action just taken, I ask unanimous consent that the substitute be called up. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid]…

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The amendment is printed in the Record of October 13, 2011, under ``Text of Amendments.'') The…

I am going to give the Chair a written test on what I just read in a few minutes. OK. The PRESIDING OFFICER. I will pass with flying colors. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Con. Res. 31. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent resolution by title. The bill clerk read as follows: A concurrent resolution (S. Con…

I ask unanimous consent that at 4 p.m., Monday, October 17, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 155, H.R. 2112--that is the Agriculture Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2012--that the committee amendment be withdrawn…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess subject to the call of the Chair. The PRESIDING OFFICER. There being no objection, the Senate, at 3:43 p.m., recessed subject to the call of the Chair. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each during that time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from…

I would just say, as my friend leaves--I know he has an appointment--the work that has been done in the last few weeks in the Senate has been very important. We have been able to work on the FEMA bill, we worked through the problems with…

we also need to focus on jobs. It is one of the most important things we can do--I believe the most important we can do. I am sorry that this week my Republican colleagues proved once again that the only jobs they care about are their own…

following leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until noon. The Republicans will control the first 30 minutes and the majority will control the next 30 minutes. At noon, the Senate will be in executive session to consider…

I ask unanimous consent that Nathan Engle, a fellow in my office, be granted floor privileges for the duration of the consideration of H.R. 2112, the agriculture appropriations bill. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it…

I appreciate the courtesy of the Presiding Officer, the patience of the Chair and all the staff for working through this afternoon to get where we are. It will make next week go smoother. The next rollcall vote will be at 5:30 on the…