may I reclaim the floor for one moment? I will yield the floor, not just for a question--I will yield the floor to the Senator from Alabama with the understanding that I will be recognized at the conclusion of the point he makes, so he…

let me thank the Senator from Alabama for his comments today. I think they are helpful in moving us forward, and I hope very much that we can find a way to go forward without having to use the constitutional doctrine that at the beginning…

I have a question for the distinguished Senator from Alabama, for whom I have very high regard. He has been my ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, and he is my ranking member on the Budget Committee, and we share the experience of…

What I am here to talk about is not the topic of the day because the fiscal cliff is the topic of the day. What I am here to address is never the topic of the day. It is the unmentionable issue; that is, climate change. It is so apparent…

I ask to speak for 15 minutes but probably not that long. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the period for morning business for debate only be extended until 5 p.m., with Senators to speak up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered.

I will speak off the topic of the day. Obviously, we are focused on the fiscal cliff. The measure is now over in the House, and the distinguished Senator from Wyoming and the senior Senator from California expressed their hope--and I would…

I have the greatest respect for the Senator from Wyoming and considerable affection. Indeed, he is my ranking member on the HELP Committee, and he has been kind enough to offer his perspective on this question of the rules change. I will…

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Hagan). The Senator from North Dakota.

I ask unanimous consent that morning business be extended until 7 p.m., with all other provisions remaining in effect. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I am pleased to offer my sincere congratulations to Olivia Culpo, a native of Cranston, RI, on being crowned Miss Universe. After being crowned Miss Rhode Island USA in her first ever pageant competition last year, Olivia's rise to Miss…

I will close the colloquy by thanking Senator Mikulski for her leadership, support, and her key role on the Appropriations Committee. I want to thank Senator Kerry of Massachusetts for his leadership on the original disaster declarations…

It is signed by 35 Republicans and 9 Democrats. It could not be more bipartisan. We are trying to deal with a real problem here, and it is a recurring problem. Our historic New England ground fiduciary is facing significant cuts in our…

I would be delighted to agree with the Senator from Massachusetts. On Rhode Island's behalf, our fisheries disaster, as the distinguished Senator from Maryland said, was declared by the Secretary of Commerce. This is not a maybe. This is…

It is not just the fishermen coming home with empty nets because the cod moved offshore, it is the fuel suppliers to their boats, the engine repair shops that take care of the mechanics, the net repair and construction groups. So a whole…

today the State of Hawai`i, the Senate, and the United States mourn the loss of Senator Daniel Inouye. Observers of the Senate today know Chairman Inouye as a poised, soft- spoken statesman: courteous and collegiate; shunning of the…

let me yield back to my senior Senator to move to his other issue. But let me also say what a pleasure and a privilege it has been to work with him in our shared determination to see that this amendment is made--this very reasonable…

Senator Reed and I want to speak briefly, and unless the leader has arrived, we will return the Senate to a quorum call at the conclusion of the remarks by Senator Reed and myself. And it is gratifying that the Senator from Pennsylvania is…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Casey). Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered.

in every corner of the globe--from pole to pole, and from the top of our atmosphere to the depths of our oceans--we see evidence of the fundamental changes that are taking place across our Earth. In 2012, North America experienced a number…

I ask unanimous consent to speak in morning business for up to 15 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I rise in support of S. 1793, the Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012, which I introduced. This commonsense bill clarifies that--upon the request of appropriate State and local law enforcement officials--select Federal…

I rise today in support of S. 1792, the Strengthening Investigations of Sex Offenders and Missing Children Act of 2011. This legislation, which is cosponsored by Senators Sessions, Feinstein, Schumer, Klobuchar, and Blumenthal, as well as…

Before the junior Senator from North Dakota speaks-- and I appreciate his courtesy in allowing us to make a few brief, personal remarks before he speaks--I wanted to say to my friend and my chairman, the senior Senator from North Dakota…

I yield to the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee, the Senator from Vermont.