Evan Wallach is really a good man and has been a tremendous judge. I think he's a perfect nominee for the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

He is also a patriot. Again, I don't use that term loosely.

Creating jobs for the American people.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid becoming the first congressional leader to name members to the debt reduction super committee.

The Republicans will say, 'We need to cut more spending to have credible deficit reduction.' The Democrats will say, 'Look, they downgraded our credit rating in part because the Republicans refused to raise some revenues.'

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. McCAIN. I ask that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

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

I urge my colleagues to vote for this.

I will be willing to compromise on the Essential Air Services issue during negotiations on the final bill in order to pass a clean extension.

I appreciate the kind words that my counterpart, Senator McConnell, has stated. I have gotten to know him and Speaker Boehner a lot better this past month or two, especially the Speaker. Even though I disagree vehemently with the direction…

I now ask unanimous consent that on Tuesday, September 6, following the disposition of the nomination of Bernice Bouie Donald and the resumption of the legislative session, the Senate proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the…

It is my understanding that the Chair has granted consent for the Senate to proceed to the consideration of those two bills; is that right? The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct.

I thank the chairman of the Budget Committee, who is the Senate's expert on such matters. Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, over the past few weeks, Congress has been engaged in a very important debate. It may have been messy, it might have…

I ask unanimous consent that the bills be read a third time and passed, en bloc; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, and any relevant statements be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it…

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 the matter be printed in the…

I ask unanimous consent to proceed to S. Res. 255. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res. 255) designating October 8, 2011, as ``National…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 254. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res…

I ask unanimous consent the nomination be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, there be no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to this matter be printed in the Record; that…

Creating jobs for the American people.

I ask unanimous consent that an intern in Senator Bingaman's office, Trey Debrine, be granted floor privileges during today's business. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Health Reform and Health Insurance Premiums: Empowering States to…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on August 2, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on health…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the following Environment and Public Works bills, en bloc: Calender No. 72, S. 710; and Calendar No. 117, S. 1302. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce Committee be discharged from further consideration of PN-741, which is Deborah A. P. Hersman of Virginia to be Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board for 2 years. The PRESIDING…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on August 2, 2011, at 10 a.m. in Dirksen 406 to conduct…