I want to commend President Obama for nominating Senator Kerry to be our next Secretary of State. There are few, if any, people in America today who have had the breadth of experience that Senator Kerry has had: as a military officer, as a…

I would note that, of course, we have passed a budget, and that is why we are facing sequestration now. That wasn't just a resolution; that was an actual law, signed by the President. A lot of people who voted for it don't like it, but we…

today I am introducing legislation directed at combating the practice of straw purchasing and illegal trafficking in firearms. I thank the law enforcement partners who have contributed ideas and Senator Durbin for joining me in this…

on the first day for bill introductions this year I once again join with Senator Crapo and a distinguished, bipartisan group of Senators to introduce the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. This life-saving legislation…

I am pleased to once again join with Senator Grassley and today introduce the Criminal Antitrust Anti- Retaliation Act. This legislation, which is identical to our legislation from last Congress, will provide important protections to…

I know the distinguished majority leader is about to propound a unanimous consent request. I ask unanimous consent to proceed for 1 minute. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

the majority leader is not a person to praise himself, but I will. I totally agree with the comments he made about how the session has virtually ended. It is only in recent times that I find myself presiding as often as I have because of…

I guess one of the advantages of being President pro tempore is I actually get to preside more than I had for a while and hear some of the speeches of my colleagues, which I appreciate. The Senate is a place I love, as I know the…

I am glad that the Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Bill Baer to serve as Assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. His nomination has been pending for 10 months, and more than three months…

I am glad that the Senate today will pass the SAFER Act with important amendments I requested to ensure that law enforcement gets the support and funding it needs to make real progress in processing rape kits. The Debbie Smith DNA Backlog…

when they say it is not an emergency, look at what happened with this hurricane. We lost 120 American lives. We lost 340,000 homes. We lost 200,000 businesses due to the effects of Sandy. If that is not an emergency, then I have not seen…

I thank the distinguished Senator from Texas. As I said earlier on the floor this week, I will miss working with her. We have worked together on a number of things. I know my distinguished colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham, has already…

I ask the manager of the bill, are you ready to vote? I will take 30 seconds.

Today the Senate is enacting provisions sent to us by Representative Conyers, Chairman Smith and others to repeal a shortsighted limitation passed in 1994 to limit Secret Service protection of former Presidents. The House bill reverses the…

Earlier this Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives came together to pass the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, the most comprehensive change to our Nation's patent laws in 60 years. It was the result of more than 6 years of…

I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute) Strike all after the enacting clause…

when Congress passed the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, it granted the Government sweeping new electronic surveillance powers which, if abused or misused, could impinge on the privacy rights of Americans. Congress enacted these controversial…

this is a matter I care a great deal about. I am concerned that we are rushing to rubberstamp a House bill that is going to extend the surveillance authorities of the FISA Amendments Act for another 5 years. My amendment would allow the…

I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendments and call up my amendment, which is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows…

the great State of Hawaii has been represented in the United States Senate by two of the longest serving Senators, and they happen to have shared the name Daniel. This year, Senator Akaka--with more than 3 decades of service in…

I have spent time on the Senate floor this week talking about the emergency supplemental appropriations bill to address Hurricane Sandy. But today I remind the Congress of another impending disaster. Unlike Sandy, but exactly like the…

the majority leader indicated that when we have the point of order, I or my designee be recognized. I ask that the distinguished senior Senator from Maryland, the chair of the Appropriations Committee, be the designee. The PRESIDING…

today, the Senate voted, by voice vote, to approve the conference report to accompany H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013. As it always does, the NDAA included a number of important provisions…

over the last four years, Senate Republicans have chosen to depart dramatically from Senate traditions in their efforts to delay and obstruct President Obama's judicial nominations. For example, until 2009, Senators deferred to the…

On November 28, 2012, the Senate overwhelmingly passed my legislation, the Dale Long Public Safety Officers Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 as an amendment to the bill the Senate will likely pass today, the National Defense Authorization…