I hope you can tell us what you expect from the changes to USAID's procurement process, because they need to fundamentally reform the way USAID does business.

I am just pointing out that sometimes these laws, while they may have great symbolic significance to Members or certain lobbies can end up really hurting us in the end.

I think our policy there needs to change.

I hope that regarding this one cooler heads may prevail.

Many of us will continue to work to get him released and back to his family.

I urge you to make this investment in strong American leadership and a more peaceful and prosperous future.

I commend the majority leader for pressing forward to obtain a vote on the nomination of Jesse Furman, finally bringing to an end the 5-month Republican filibuster of this nomination. It should not have taken five months and the filing of…

Congress has taken an important step today to address the looming spectrum crunch that our country faces as well as provide first responders with the nationwide network that they undoubtedly need. From cell phones to WiFi to broadcast…

I appreciate the fact that the filibuster has been dropped on this very good man. This nomination has taken months to get here. I would urge everybody to vote for it.

I yield to the Senator from New York. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New York.

The Senate was forced to spend the better part of this week ending a filibuster against the nomination of Judge Adalberto Jordan of Florida to fill a judicial emergency vacancy on the Eleventh Circuit. Finally, after a four month…

This is the kind of obstruction that is hard to explain to the American people. This Republican filibuster, like that of Judge Jordan, is very hard to understand. Jesse Furman is an experienced Federal prosecutor who has prosecuted…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at 10 a.m., to hold a Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Global Narcotics Affairs subcommittee…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on banking…

I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 10 minutes as in morning business. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on Foreign…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at 11:30 a.m., to hold a briefing entitled, ``Iran's Influence and Activity in Latin America.''…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on February 16, 2012, at 10 a.m., in SD 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``Securing America's…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at 2:15 p.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate, in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``Addressing Workforce Needs at the Regional Level…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at 9:30 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 16, 2012, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Examining the European Debt Crisis…

today, I am pleased to introduce the Cyber Crime Protection Security Act, a bill to strengthen our Nation's cybercrime laws. Developing a comprehensive strategy for cybersecurity is one of the most pressing challenges facing our Nation…

I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 5 minutes as in morning business. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________