there will be no further rollcall votes this week. The next vote will be on Monday at approximately 5:30 p.m. I will give a scheduling update later after I confer with the Republican leader. I note the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING…

I say to all my friends, and new Senators, welcome to the United States. This is a vote on the piece of legislation that was described by my friend, the chairman of the Judiciary, as well as anyone else: It is violative of our…

I want to say to my friend from West Virginia, he has been a great addition to the Senate. We of course know he replaced the great, the legendary Robert Byrd. The people of West Virginia should be very happy with the performance of Joe…

in about an hour we will vote on the Republicans' so-called cap, cut, and balance legislation. As I have said before--in fact, just a few minutes ago--this is one of the worst pieces of legislation to ever be placed on the floor of the…

I object to any further proceedings at this time on this bill. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard. The bill will be placed on the calendar. ____________________

H.R. 2553 is at the desk and due for a second reading. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will read the bill by title for the second time. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 2553) to amend the Internal…

following leader remarks, the Senate will resume the motion to proceed to the bill H.R. 2560. The time until 10 a.m. will be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees. At 10 a.m., I will be recognized to…

following leader remarks, I will move to proceed to H.R. 2560. The time until 2 p.m. today will be equally divided and controlled, with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the majority controlling the next 30 minutes. We…

I ask permission to ask my friend a question through the Chair. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized.

I now move to proceed to Calendar No. 106, H.R. 2560. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the bill by title. The bill clerk read as follows: A motion to proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 106, H.R. 2560, an…

first, let me get this off my chest. Coming in today, I just heard the announcement that the House of Representatives is taking the weekend off. I have reached out to the Speaker. I have not had an opportunity to speak to him. But I want…

I ask unanimous consent that Matthew Levy, a fellow on the Budget Committee, be granted the privileges of the floor during the duration of today and tomorrow's session of the Senate. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it…

I appreciate my friend's courtesy. I want everyone who has any interest in this piece of legislation on the floor today to know that now is the time to come and debate to their heart's content. If they want to debate it late tonight, we…

While the distinguished chairman of the Appropriations Committee was talking, I had a visit with some of the pages to ask them did they realize who was speaking. They all knew who he was. They knew he was a heroic man winning the Medal of…

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

It is true, is it not, that the Senator served many years in the House of Representatives?

And the Senator understands the difference between the procedures in the House and in the Senate, does he not?

And in the Senator's years serving in the House of Representatives, he has seen how quickly things can move over there; is that right?

And coming to the Senate, the Senator has seen how slowly things have to move here in the Senate; is that right?

I say to my friend through the Chair that I see what is developing now as very, very bad for our country. It is hard to comprehend--I ask my friend this question--it is hard to comprehend how the House of Representatives, at the height of…

And it appears to me one reason to do this is to do indirectly what they cannot do directly; that is, we have--and I read them here this morning--statements from my friend the Speaker, John Boehner, saying we cannot default on our debt…

I want to extend my appreciation to Senators Leahy and Grassley for together getting this matter done. He has done a wonderful job for 10 years, and the country believes they need him for 2 more years, and he has agreed to take that, and I…

I say to my friend through the Chair that they may send us something well-intentioned, but I am not sure they understand the rules of the Senate. There are a number of people who are Republicans over here who have stated publicly that they…

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 6:48 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, July 21, 2011, at 9:30 a.m…

I would ask that my request be modified to allow 2 minutes of debate, equally divided, between the votes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. Amendment No. 556, as Further Modified The amendment…