Is it not a fact that the first amendment that was brought up was a bipartisan one of Senator Hatch's and mine? Shortly thereafter, the Senator from Iowa came with an amendment. Following the normal courtesy done, I allowed mine to be set…

The Senator is probably aware of the fact that we have a large number of amendments that were from both Republicans and Democrats. We suggested that they are all acceptable, could probably be adopted by a voice vote, both these Republican…

I might ask another question. The Presiding Officer has an amendment involving women that would be easily accepted, but we cannot get that agreement. The Senator has been here a long time in both bodies. It is my recollection--is it…

In answer to my friend from Florida, who has been a friend for decades and knows the coastal area far better than anyone else, the more secure we make the land border for those who want to have illegal entry into the United States, the…

I appreciate that. The Senator from New Jersey has the floor. I appreciate him coming here and saying this. Nobody in this body of either party has worked harder and more diligently than the Senator from New Jersey on comprehensive…

I modify my amendment with the changes I have at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has that right. The amendment is so modified. The amendment (No. 1183), as modified, is as follows: Strike section 3 and all that follows through…

I understand the Leahy amendment No. 1183 is now pending; is that correct? The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct. Amendment 1183, As Modified

I appreciate the comments of the distinguished majority leader, and I will be speaking further on this matter later in the coming week. I thank him and everybody who worked with him for getting us here. I am reminded today that legislating…

this legislation has been pending on the floor since the beginning of last week. We should have started disposing of amendments during the first week the bill was on the Senate floor. But we have seen objection after objection by those who…

I support the tabling of the amendment. There may be some good parts in it, but most of it is bad. The billions of additional taxpayer dollars I cannot support, with all of the billions we already have in here. The biggest reason I will…

will the Senator, before he yields the floor, yield for a question? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.

I believe the Senator is aware of this. I ask, does he know when we passed the farm bill last year by a huge bipartisan margin, and again this year, that on the Senate committee are several former chairs of that committee in both parties…

I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cowan). Objection is heard. The Senator from Iowa.

I yield to the distinguished Senator from Hawaii. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Hawaii.

the Senator has several excellent amendments which I support and agreed to. We have given the other side over and over again a list of amendments that under normal circumstances would be agreed to in about 5 minutes by voice vote…

several Senators have mentioned this legislation has been pending on the Senate floor since the beginning of last week. Now we are here at the end of this week. If everybody here had been in favor of at least getting a vote one way or the…

I appreciate the Senator from Nevada getting this unanimous consent agreement and that it was agreed to. I commend the majority leader for the work he is doing. It is a slow process. It would be an awful lot slower if it wasn't for the…

I ask unanimous consent that the time be equally divided. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

again, I thank the majority leader. I have heard some talk tonight from some saying they wished there would be votes. I finally have given up handing long lists of amendments we are prepared to vote on to the Republican side, both…

what is the parliamentary situation? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time for debate goes until 9:30. The Senator from Vermont has 13 minutes.

I urge all Senators who say that deficit reduction is important to them to join us and support the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act as reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Our bill will help us…

I thank the distinguished Presiding Officer and my neighbor. I thank the Senator from Utah for his kind words about the markup in the Senate Judiciary Committee. As he knows, we had some 300 amendments before the committee and I brought…

You know, I hear a lot of speeches that we should support family values, as both the Senator from Nevada and I do, but when you try to put it in a bill--that it is obviously a family value, protecting children--then we have an objection…

I would say to the distinguished Senator from Utah, I made such suggestions to the Republican side. They were unable to accept it, or unwilling. That was not objected to by the distinguished Senator from Utah but by some on his side who…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Amendments Nos. 1268, 1298, and 1224 En Bloc