I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on August 2, 2011, at 10 a.m. to conduct a committee hearing entitled ``Housing Finance Reform…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on August 2, 2011. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on banking…

I rise today to introduce the Three Kids Mine Reclamation Act of 2011. My legislation transfers approximately 900 acres of federal land to the city of Henderson to facilitate the remediation and redevelopment of a dangerous abandoned mine…

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to consideration of H. Con. Res. 70, the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to…

I would like to engage in a colloquy with my colleague the chairman of the Budget Committee, Senator Conrad, who worked with me as we drafted the joint committee language in this bill. The compromise we are voting on today on the debt…

I would like to engage in a colloquy with my friend the Republican leader, with whom I worked in drafting the provisions of this bill creating a joint committee to address deficit reduction. We wrote a number of deadlines in the bill to…

we have tried for days now to change what the Republicans in the House have tried to do to the American people. In fact, it appears they are going to be able to do it. We have the extension of the Federal Aviation Administration…

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it recess and convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business conducted on the following dates and times, and that following each pro forma session, the…

first of all, I appreciate your patience presiding over the Senate at this late hour. I extend my appreciation to this staff, everybody here, for all this work. About the last month has been very difficult. I appreciate very much the…

if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it recess under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 6:43 p.m., recessed until Friday, August 5, 2011, at 10 a.m…

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the Senate's recess, committees be authorized to report legislative and executive matters on Tuesday, August 30, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…

I ask unanimous consent that we proceed to a period of morning business until 4 p.m. today, with Senators permitted to speak up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

the eyes of the American people and the world have been watching Washington very closely this past week. While they witnessed a lot of political wrangling, they also saw Congress make some historically important decisions and avert a…

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions…

I ask unanimous consent that from Tuesday, August 2, through Tuesday, September 6, the majority leader and Senator Rockefeller be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is…

Senator McConnell and I have completed our statements. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Tennessee.

as provided under the previous order, I now move to concur in the House amendment to S. 365. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The motion is pending.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 95, 230, 232, 254, 255, 256, 257, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 275, 277, 278, 279, 280, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 288, and…

I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate the House message to accompany S. 365. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair lays before the Senate a message from the House, which the clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read…

following any leader remarks, I will make a motion to concur in the House message to accompany S. 365, the legislative vehicle for the debt limit compromise. The time until noon will be equally divided and controlled for debate on the…

the next rollcall vote will be at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6. The first vote will be on the confirmation of Bernice Bouie Donald to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, and the second vote will be a cloture vote on the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 114, 115, 116, and 117; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table…

I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 104. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The assistant…

I ask unanimous consent that on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, at 5 p.m., the Senate proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar No. 109; that there be 30 minutes of debate equally divided in the usual form; that upon the use or…

I move to proceed to Calendar No. 87, H.R. 1249. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: Motion to proceed to the bill (H.R. 1249) to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for…