while we are all on the Senate floor, everyone knows the business we have before us before we begin our recess, and part, I think, of what we see rise here is we have a lot to do in a short period of time. All the business is very…

I just wanted to thank Chairman Enzi for his tremendous leadership. So many people have been thanked over the course of the night, and it has been a very productive 4 weeks. But if you look at the committee chairman, he has probably been…

today we made some progress on the Defense appropriations bill. Chairman Stevens and Senator Inouye will be here all day tomorrow with the goal of finishing the bill tomorrow evening. Those serious about offering amendments to the bill…

I will suggest the absence of a quorum here shortly while we work through a few remaining items of business before closing for the day. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll…

this vote will occur on Friday morning, unless changed by agreement, and we will announce the exact time for that vote as we get closer to it. In the meantime, I now withdraw the motion to proceed so we can return to the Defense…

I move to proceed to H.R. 5970, and I send a cloture motion to the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion. The assistant legislative clerk read…

I object on behalf of the Democratic leader. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. Cloture Motion

today we are returning to the Department of Defense appropriations bill. Our two managers opened the debate last night and are ready this morning to continue that debate and consider amendments that may be offered. If Senators have…

absolutely. And this has been very carefully crafted to make sure we do meet those criteria. The real beauty of what is on the table--again, it is three different bills, but each has been addressed very carefully, such as pay-go, such as…

that is exactly right. What is important is the permanent solution. Right now, it is absurd to think we almost have to have three types of planning for when you die: over the next 3 years, as these prices come down; and then total…

let me point out on this objection we heard that this bill did pass this body last week by a vote of 65 to 34. It has the overwhelming support of the American people. Over 80 percent of Americans clearly support this bill. It passed with…

I do thank my distinguished colleague, who about 2 months ago said, we can do this, we can do it for the American people. It was at a time where it looked as though this Senate could not come together to address one of the more fundamental…

I will be happy to. Mr. McCONNELL. Does the leader share my view that one of the things we hear the most from our constituents as we go about the country is: Why can't you people in the Senate do things on a bipartisan basis? And I heard…

that is absolutely true. And I think as we enter this debate over the course of the week, with a lot of these straw men that are being thrown out, we will have the opportunity to talk about and address the reality of what the costs would…

I would just very briefly respond that my distinguished colleague from Kentucky really captures the point. Not only is it bipartisan support, but it is bipartisan majority support for each of these. Remember, for a total repeal, we got, in…

I will briefly respond on a couple of issues. Things have moved very quickly and, as the Democratic leader knows, not as anticipated exactly as of midpoint last week for all sorts of different reasons--in part because of the House…

I will be very brief. Our agenda has been very clear. It has been clearly articulated and, as people look back, as they look forward, they will see how all the pieces come together because each time we take a bill to the floor there is a…

It is not. It is either a percentage or the amount $2.10 for every hour you are working if we pass it this week. It is the law of the land, by the way, if we pass it this week as it is written. We are talking about a 2.10 absolute. But…

today, we overwhelmingly passed a very important bill that will affect the lives of all consumers, which is everybody in this country in the future. The gulf coast energy security bill was passed overwhelmingly today with a vote of 71 to…

I think the misrepresentation of the issue we are going to be voting on, on Friday, that has just been made by the assistant Democratic leader needs to be addressed. Right now, the bill, according to the Congressional Budget Office, is…

Let me finish responding to my distinguished colleague. The minimum wage that he called ``a joke,'' that we put in the trifecta bill, or the House put in the trifecta bill, which we will be voting on on Friday, to call a minimum wage that…

I will tell my good friend from Minnesota that I do not consider the Gulf of Mexico energy bill to be the last word on energy policy this year. I am well aware of your proposals promoting renewables and energy conservation, and I look…

today we will start a period of morning business until 3 p.m. Following that time, we will return to the debate on the Gulf of Mexico energy security bill. We have a cloture vote scheduled for 5:30 on this bipartisan bill. I hope cloture…

I opened my remarks tonight to say there are a lot of issues being considered. Let me in closing mention a great event we had today for a bill that will get a fair amount of attention--but not the attention it deserves--in affecting…

today the Senate continued consideration of S. 3711, the gulf coast Energy bill. This morning we filed cloture on the bill, and that cloture vote will occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. I encourage Senators to come to the floor on Friday to…