Pete Sessions

I wish to approach this committee very respectfully, not only to you, Chairman Miller, but also former Chairman Brady.

Mr. Geithner--and this is important, colleagues-- Treasury Secretary Geithner came before the committee. He would not repeat these words. I questioned him. Of course he tried to avoid it but eventually when asked directly he honestly said…

With regard to the Senator's views, I am concerned that working Americans are not being fairly recompensed for their work on the American debt. We have gone a long time with no real net improvement in the income, inflation has been higher…

I think what we did then was a tough decision, and I'm sorry to hear now that we're being blamed for accepting a compromise out of the White House. I know what's happening, and so do you, Mr. Speaker.

In other words--well, the words Senator Schumer is saying are quite plain. I have a great deal of respect for him. I know he wants to accomplish something valuable here. But it does seem to me he is saying, Well, if enforcement doesn't…

According to some news reports--to follow up on the point the Senator made about sending two messages, one promising the people one thing and the other telling special-interest groups another thing--one report said Democratic Senators have…

Would the Senator from Mississippi say the enforcement of immigration laws is an area--based on the Senator's experience in Congress, in the House and in the Senate--where the difference between the promises of what is going to happen and…

I will tell the Senator my concern and ask the Senator if he has a thought about it. I am uneasy about giving, for the first time, explicit power----

I know we lowered the filibuster; a different Congress did. My question is, Was it a two-thirds vote or not?

Reclaiming the floor, because I will yield the floor in a little bit, and the Senator can have an opportunity to talk, but I just want to follow up on that. Was the final vote by two-thirds or not?

The Constitution does trump the Senate rules. But I would ask my colleague if he is aware of any kind of history of the Republic where we didn't follow the existing Senate rules, which say we should have a two-thirds vote before we change…

I first wish to congratulate my friend, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Leahy, who has been honored to receive one of the Senate's highest honors, President pro tempore of the Senate. I congratulate him and join with him…

I thank the gentlewoman for asking. I have no further speakers and will allow her that opportunity, and then I will close. {time} 1340

I appreciate the gentleman, my friend, who formerly was the vice chairman of the Rules Committee. I would like to remind him that when he was the vice chairman of the committee, almost half of the 3,075 bills considered under suspension in…

The gentleman from New York, a very dear friend of mine, really, I think, got something wrong. What we're trying to extend is the law that President Obama signed into law as a result of bipartisan action 2 years ago, and the economy was…

I do appreciate the gentleman, my dear friend from Maryland, whom I have not only regular conversations with but enjoy very much. I would once again remind the gentleman that on August 1 of this year we passed, 256-171, an idea that would…

I'd like to just make sure that the speaker that was up here, Mr. Becerra, understands that on August 1 of this year we passed a bill to extend tax cuts for the middle class, 256-171. We've already done that, and it's now awaiting Senate…

I'd like to remind the gentleman that Republicans have already passed the bill for the middle class tax cut on August 1 of this year, and it passed 256-171. We're now waiting for the Senate to act on that. I reserve the balance of my time.

I appreciate the gentleman's engaging me. I would say to you there is nothing in this rule that will preclude our taking a conference report or any business on what we might call ``regular order'' that would require a rule to come forth.

I will yield in just a second. Mr. Speaker, this bill would have extended all current rates and would have compelled Congress to enact meaningful tax reform in 2013. We passed this. We've said we ought to do what we should do, and that was…

For the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from Fairport, New York, my dear friend, the ranking member on the committee, Ms. Slaughter, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume…

I don't want to get in a fight with it, but, if necessary, I will use what ability I have in the Senate to insist that we get responses. Mr. President, I yield the floor. ____________________

I would like just like to say that this amendment arose after Senator Webb expressed concerns at one of our Armed Services Committee hearing fundamentally that Iraq and Afghanistan are voting in their parliaments on the force of status…

I call up amendment No. 3009 and ask for its consideration. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Alabama [Mr. Sessions] proposes an amendment numbered…

I call up amendment No. 3009, as modified, and ask for its consideration.