just following up on the comments of my colleague from Alaska, he has laid out some very important thoughts regarding the farm bill, regarding the debt ceiling, and regarding Social Security. I applaud him for coming to the floor and…

I am very glad that my friend from Maryland has drawn attention to the forward looking provisions in this bill. It is crucial that while the Secretary of State makes the initial determination as to who should be on this list of gross human…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 6634, which was received from the House and is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant bill clerk read as…

because of an important meeting with business and government leaders in Oregon on Monday morning, I was forced to miss votes on Paul William Grimm's nomination as U.S. district judge, and for the motion to invoke cloture on S. 3254, the…

I ask unanimous consent to call up Merkley amendment No. 3096, as modified. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Oregon [Mr…

I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be waived. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment (No. 3096), as modified, is as follows: At the end of subtitle B of title XII, add the…

I appreciate the partnership of my colleague from Arizona. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

I am pleased to be able to present this amendment in this Chamber. I appreciate that my lead cosponsor Rand Paul and nine other Senators have signed on to sponsor this amendment. This amendment is designed to help draw down the war in…

I rise to speak in favor of my amendment No. 3096 to express the sense of Congress on the accelerated transition of U.S. combat and military security operations for the Government of Afghanistan. Our President has laid out a course of…

I ask unanimous consent that Jesse Marseille, an intern in my office, be granted the privilege of the floor for the duration of the day. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I am pleased to be here with my colleague from New Mexico, Senator Tom Udall, to talk a little about the issue of how this body, which was once considered the world's premier deliberative body, can actually discuss and decide things in…

This particular bill is a great one to kind of start the conversations, because this emphasis on infrastructure is felt all around the country.

We strongly urge DOI to remove Arctic leases from the 2012-2017 program.

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent it adjourn under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 8:21 p.m., adjourned until Friday, September 21, 2012, at 12 noon…

Unless we reach an agreement, the next rollcall vote will be after midnight tomorrow evening, but we hope we can work something out in order to complete our work. ____________________

I understand there is a bill at the desk. I ask for its first reading. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the bill by title for the first time. The bill clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 3607) to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 12 p.m. on Friday, September 21, 2012; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be…

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

I think this hearing is very important to create some momentum.

I just think that Senators who don't come from coastal States and understand how important those ports are, we need to collectively, from inside the building and from outside the building, educate them about that.

I will be advocating for whatever pools of grant or financing exist for the projects in Oregon.

I hold a lot of town halls. I think it is now 144 since I was elected.

I believe a surplus has essentially been dedicated to national debt.

It's nice when occasionally stakeholders can come together and wrestle with the very difficult issues about how to share this precious resource.