today we are returning to session in order to conclude our work for the first session of the 109th Congress. I want to welcome everybody back after a couple of weeks where people have been with constituents and people have been working…

And then it changed about 3 years ago, where for all of this period of time, it didn't occur; that is, a nominee who had majority support being denied a vote on the floor of the Senate. Then it happened 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 times…

I would argue that the dignity of this institution has worked for 214 years. So why deny it? Especially why deny it with a qualified nominee like Alito.

once again I thank my distinguished colleague from West Virginia for his insightful comments. I do want to keep the focus at this point--I have a feeling he is going to want to say something after I close, but I think it is time to put…

it doesn't say in the Constitution that you can vote; it says you can give advice and consent and that the Senate makes the rules as to whether you vote or not. We just disagree. Obviously, this goes back to the whole filibuster argument…

I didn't bring it up yesterday. I responded to a question, and then I did cite what six Democratic Senators have said and what eight newspapers have said about what is coming from the other side. But I think it is time to put it aside and…

I yield to my colleague from Kentucky. Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, would the majority leader not agree with the Senator from Kentucky that the Paez and Berzon nominations to which our good friend from West Virginia refers--in both…

It is not in the Constitution that a Senator specifically has the right for an up-or-down vote. I am saying the dignity of the institution to give advice and consent deserves an up-or-down vote on the floor of the Senate. What the…

Let me yield to my distinguished colleague, and then I will be happy to yield to the Senator from West Virginia.

I will not reclaim the floor. But what happened to those judges? Not with my principle as an up-or-down vote, but I ask my distinguished colleague what happened. Ultimately, they got an up-or-down vote on the floor of the Senate. That is…

To put threats of filibuster aside before we have even had the hearings. I am not bringing up filibuster.

Yes. Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have listened with great interest to the exchange on the television monitor back in my office and thought I might come down and join you both. Let me suggest that it could be argued that you are both…

I obviously am committed not only to what is in the supplemental, but I think we need to make it very clear to our colleagues and to the people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, where I have personally visited very early on and have…

Thursday night, on the eve of Veterans Day, we passed the Foreign Operations appropriations bill with near unanimous, bipartisan support. I commend my colleagues for their cooperation on this bill which is so critical to America's…

I ask for one modification, that Chairman Specter be given 5 minutes to speak on the motion to instruct relating to NIH following Senator Durbin. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr…

the issues the distinguished Senator from Louisiana comments on and mentions are something we take very seriously here. As she well knows, my personal commitment, the commitment of leadership on both sides of the aisle, is to address the…

today we will get off to a quick start in the Senate. We actually left not that many hours ago, and we are making real progress in terms of moving the Nation's business forward. This will be a very busy day. In a moment I will call up the…

in a few moments, I will propound a unanimous consent request. In essence, what we will be doing in about an hour is having another vote on going to conference on the HHS appropriations bill. We will ask unanimous consent for that shortly…

the Senate just passed a bill that takes a major step--major step--to bringing health care into the information age, finally. This bill, the Wired for Health Care Quality Act, reflects the hard work by Senator Enzi, to whom I will turn the…

in closing our comments on this bill, I also thank my staff who have been shepherding this for me for the last 3 years, Liz Hall, Jennifer Romans, and many others. The real significance is that patient care will be improved. It will get…

we will be voting tomorrow morning at approximately 9:30. We will do the continuing resolution. We have an amendment on the resolution in the morning. There is going to be a lot going on tomorrow. We will not be able to further clarify the…

Today, we will start with a 30-minute period for morning business. After morning business, we will resume consideration of the tax reconciliation bill. This morning when we return to that bill, there will be 10 hours remaining under the…

in addition to that, I know everybody is concerned about travel plans and when we are going to leave. I have been very clear throughout that we have business to do. This is the last legislative effort before we leave for Christmas, but it…

I think that would be ideal. I still think we might be able to yield some time back in addition to that. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all time required for voting be part of the 10 hours that remain in terms of the statutory…

tomorrow morning after we convene, we will immediately proceed to the continuing resolution. Senator Harkin will have an amendment which will require a vote. Therefore, Senators should expect a couple votes early in the morning. Those…