Capitol Words a project of the Sunlight Foundation

Mr. President, following leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 12:30 p.m. Republicans will control the first 30 minutes, the majority the final 30 ...

The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was called to order by the Honorable Richard Blumenthal, a Senator from the State of Connecticut.

The legislative clerk read the following letter:

The Honorable Richard Blumenthal led the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it ...

Mr. President, in this country, owning a home means more than a roof over your head. It is the centerpiece of the American Dream.

The clerk will call the roll.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I want to make a couple of observations this morning about the bipartisan support that exists for extending a payroll tax holiday. I will start with the obvious: ...

Mr. President, I see the distinguished Senator from Oklahoma and I know he is waiting to go and I appreciate his courtesy that I might go first. Let me speak ...

Mr. President, I see the junior Senator from Connecticut in the Chamber. If he wishes to speak, it is my understanding this is Democratic time now. If he wishes to ...

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

I thank the Chair.

The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

The Senator from North Dakota.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that morning business be extended until 6 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Republicans controlling ...

Mr. President, I rise today to speak about jobs, energy independence, and good environmental stewardship for our country. I rise to speak about working with our strongest ally and trading ...

Without objection, it is so ordered.

The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

The clerk will call the roll.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

The clerk will call the roll.

Madam President, I rise today to call upon the President of the United States to rescind one of the most radical and unconstitutional mandates ever issued, a mandate that requires ...

Madam President, I ask that I be recognized to speak.

The Senator from Mississippi.

The Republican leader.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I want to talk about this recent HHS directive to faith-based organizations on health care and suggest that it is exactly the kind of problem many of us ...

Without objection, it is so ordered.

The Senator from Missouri.

Madam President, what is the parliamentary situation?

Madam President, throughout my Senate career I have spent a lot of time defending the first amendment. Most of it I spent defending one particular clause of that amendment, the ...

Madam President, I certainly share the concerns of my colleague from Missouri, and I share the concerns of my constituents in New Hampshire and citizens across this Nation who see ...

Mr. President, I come to the floor now as a father and a grandfather. Bonnie and I have five daughters and are grandparents of eight granddaughters. Nothing in our family ...

The Senator from New Jersey.

Mr. President, I am also very proud to be here with my colleagues. I think Senator Murray was eloquent, along with Senator Shaheen and Senator Mikulski. I am here to ...

The Senator from Washington.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

The clerk will call the roll.

The Senator from California.

Mr. President, I am pleased to be able to join my colleague from Maryland to try and point out how this issue is being manipulated.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

The Senator from Iowa.

The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived; further, that the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S. 1813 occur at ...

The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

The cloture motion having been presented under rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.

Mr. President, last night, the Senate adopted the final version of a long term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration. The process has been long and less than elegant as ...

Mr. President, I support a clean extension of the FAA bill. But I cannot support the conference report that's before the Senate today because it includes a radical provision to ...

Mr. President, I thank my colleagues for their help in passing S. 2039 by unanimous consent last month. This bill, which establishes a pilot program in North Dakota, will provide ...

Mr. President, today I wish to honor Mark Hamill, a native Montanan and a veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Mr. President, today I congratulate one of my constituents, Mike Kluse, on being recognized as the 2012 Laboratory Director of the Year by the Federal Laboratory Consortium, FLC. Mike is ...

Mr. President, today I wish to speak about an important health issue that impacts the lives of many people across the country. Each year, more than 18,000 Americans are diagnosed ...

Mr. President, today I recognize Chris Wassman, a fall press intern in my Washington, DC office for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff and ...

Mr. President, today I recognize Courtney Houston-Carter, a fall law extern in my Washington, DC office for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff and ...

Mr. President, today I recognize Katerina Erbiti, a fall intern in my Washington, DC office for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff and the ...

Mr. President, today I recognize Michael Beck, a fall intern in my Washington, DC office for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff and the ...

The following bill was read the first time: S. 2079. A bill to extend the pay limitation for Members of Congress and Federal employees.

The following concurrent resolutions and Senate resolutions were read, and referred (or acted upon), as indicated: By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Lautenberg, and Mr. Menendez): S. Res. ...

The following bill was read the first and the second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated: H.R. 306. An act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to ...

S. 412 At the request of Mr. Levin, the name of the Senator from Florida (Mr. Rubio) was added as a cosponsor of S. 412, a bill to ensure that ...

There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

Mr. President, today, along with Senator Conrad and others, I am introducing S. 2075, the Cut Unjustified Tax Loopholes Act, or CUT Loopholes Act. This legislation will help us meet ...

Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Thursday, February 16, 2012, at 2:15 p.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate ...

SENATE RESOLUTION 369--CONGRATULATING THE NEW YORK GIANTS FOR WINNING SUPER BOWL XLVI Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Lautenberg, and Mr. Menendez) submitted the following resolution; which was considered ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 7, 2012, at 10 a.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 7, 2012, at 3 p.m., in room ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 7, 2012, at 2:30 p.m.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

The resolution (S. Res. 369) was agreed to.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action ...

The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

The bill will be read the second time on the next legislative day.

The Senate will now resume legislative session.

Mr. President, the next vote will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday.

The nomination considered and confirmed is as follows:

The clerk will report the resolution by title.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate adjourn until 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, February 9, 2012; that following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be ...

Without objection, it is so ordered.

There being no objection, the Senate, at 7:18 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, February 9, 2012, at 9:30 a.m.

Executive nomination confirmed by the Senate February 7, 2012: IN THE AIR FORCE THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICER FOR APPOINTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TO THE GRADE INDICATED UNDER ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) for 5 minutes.

Pursuant to the order of the House of January 17, 2012, the Chair will now recognize Members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, it was very sad to get the news last Friday of the passing of our former colleague, Congressman Jim Lloyd. Jim Lloyd and I began as political adversaries ...

Mr. Speaker, 2011 marked an unfortunate milestone in our country's financial picture when, for the first time in American history, student loan debt actually exceeded credit card debt, which again ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Nugent) for 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.

The Chair has examined the Journal of the last day's proceedings and announces to the House his approval thereof.

Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess until noon today.

The recess having expired, the House was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Womack) at noon.

Without objection, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts) is recognized for 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, this year's tribute to our lost four chaplains, last seen on the decks of the USAT Dorchester offering comfort and their only chance for survival to others, is ...

(Mr. MILLER of Florida asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

The Chair will entertain up to 15 further requests for 1-minute speeches on each side of the aisle.

Mr. Speaker, on January 4, the President abused executive authority and appointed three new members to the National Labor Relations Board claiming a recess appointment, but the Senate was not ...

Mr. Speaker, the clock is ticking on extending the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits for millions of Americans. In just three short weeks, people barely surviving on unemployment benefits ...

(Mr. CARTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker and my fellow colleagues, it is a distinct pleasure to stand before you right now, not only as a Representative but as a fan. I would like to ...

Mr. Speaker, this day marks a sad anniversary for many of the folks I represent. Four years ago today, a combustible dust explosion destroyed the Imperial Sugar plant in Port ...

(Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

(Mr. ROONEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ronald Reagan signed legislation that funded transit out of the highway trust fund. The new Republican majority is going to end transit's eligibility for highway trust fund dollars--but they've created ...

(Mrs. BLACK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible story of the USAT Dorchester's four chaplains. The brave ``immortal chaplains,'' a Jewish rabbi, a Catholic priest, and two Protestant ministers, ...

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of national school choice because we need to offer our children effective education opportunities. And in Michigan, despite spending just shy of $10,000 ...

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to address the need for jobs in this country. On Wednesday, we will have reached 400 days since the Republicans took control of the House ...

(Mr. RIGELL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, everybody is talking about Chrysler's Super Bowl commercial ``Halftime in America.'' It featured Clint Eastwood, relating the recovery of the American automobile industry. That inspirational ad has now ...

(Ms. NORTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, the party line from Republican leaders is that Republicans agree on a payroll tax cut holiday; they just need to find a way to pay for it. But ...

Mr. Speaker, today Members of Congress and others will see a thousand women of color visiting all of our offices. They call themselves the Delta Sorority. Here the leadership is ...

Mr. Speaker, it's the Tax Code that brings me down to the House floor today. You know, if you care about special interest tax breaks in this town, there is ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the middle class workers in Wisconsin and across the country who have unfairly been paying a higher tax rate than millionaires and billionaires.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my Democratic colleagues ready to work for all Americans. Unfortunately, this no-show Tea Party Republican Congress, which worked only 6 days during the entire ...

(Ms. LEE of California asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 539 and ask for its immediate consideration.

We have no speakers remaining.

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by urging a ``no'' vote on this rule, which is not open, and a ``no'' vote on the underlying bill. The bill before us does ...

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.

Then I will close for our side.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Georgia?

I thank my friend for yielding the time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my friend from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) pending which I yield myself such time as I ...

The SPEAKER laid before the House the following communication from the Clerk of the House of Representatives: Office of the Clerk, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, February 1, 2012. Hon. ...

[Roll No. 39] YEAS--239 Adams Aderholt Akin Alexander Altmire Amash Amodei Austria Bachmann Bachus Barletta Bartlett Barton (TX) Bass (NH) Benishek Berg Biggert Bilbray Bilirakis Bishop (UT) Black Blackburn Bonner ...

There is 1 minute remaining.

Mr. Speaker, religious civil liberty is the bedrock of a free people, but today we face an unprecedented and unconstitutional act of aggression against our religious liberty sponsored by the ...

(Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

(Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, under rule XXII, clause 7(c), I hereby announce my intention to offer a motion to instruct on H.R. 3630, the conference report to extend the payroll tax, unemployment ...

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Professor Louis Moore for his long and distinguished career in the field of agriculture. After more than half a century of service, Lew ...

Mr. Speaker, it's an interesting thing: there are programs around here that are completely out of control, and one is the Department of Energy's Loan Guarantee Program that our Energy ...

(Mr. PAULSEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Thank you, Mr. Gohmert.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Mississippi for putting this time together. And I rise today in support of National Marriage Week.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to participate in National Marriage Week, along with my bride of 30 years, Tori. In fact, it was February 13, 1980, that she and ...

Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 5, 2011, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Nunnelee) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.

Thank you, Mr. Harper.

Oh, I think it's Paul Tonko.

Representative Garamendi, as you toss out pieces of the puzzle there, it conjures up all sorts of responses that I think we need to provide and share.

Mr. Tonko, why do we keep coming back to the 21st Congressional District?

I'll give you another example of how policy can change what has happened.

Thank you. I really hadn't noticed, but they almost parallel. One is right on top of the other. You can put that blue line, and it copies the red line ...

Thank you, Mr. Tonko.

I'm always willing to help a sore throat get soothed.

Thank you.

Well, that American Dream is going to be held back by unfair trade policies that are seriously harming the American economy. Early on, I put this up. I don't know ...

Right.

Mr. Tonko, thank you very much for joining me. I needed a break.

Just on the grid thing, I would like to make a comment because sometimes it's like we're challenged so that we can walk away from the challenge of the moment, ...

It seems to be the one that I know the best. But what I see happening there is, again, a great intellect being poured into design and the concepts of ...

Beyond that, let's talk about the specific policies that we've been discussing here in the House--legislation that has been introduced--that will bring back the American manufacturing sector because, indeed, it ...

Who represents that district? It is Tonko?

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege and honor to be recognized by you to address you on the floor of the House of Representatives. It's also my privilege to be ...

In which case, Mr. Speaker, I would recap this with my gratitude to the American people: We are here. We are putting a mark in place for posterity, and posterity ...

Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 5, 2011, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett) is recognized for 30 minutes.

In compliance with the provisions of 2 U.S.C. 25, please have printed in the appropriate place of the House section of the Congressional Record of Tuesday, February 7, 2012, the ...

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 7 o'clock and 45 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at 10 a.m. for ...

The oath of office required by the sixth article of the Constitution of the United States, and as provided by section 2 of the act of May 13, 1884 (23 ...

Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Mr. WOODALL: Committee on Rules. House ...

Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted regarding the specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution ...

Under clause 3 of rule XII, 36. The SPEAKER presented a petition of the City of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, relative to Resolution No. 2011- 121 setting forth the City's 2012 ...

Mr. Speaker, during Black History Month, I rise today to honor Los Angeles City Councilman Herb Wesson, Jr., who has built a ground breaking career of public service at the ...

Mr. Chair, while I agree that the federal government must find a way to dispose of unused federal government property properly, I voted against H.R. 1734, because this legislation turns ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Marriage Week, which begins today and concludes on Valentine's Day. I am a strong supporter of traditional marriage, which is the basis ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 40th anniversary of Family Central, Inc.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the recipients of the 2012 Annual Sebasticook Valley Chamber of Commerce Awards. For years, the Chamber has been at the forefront of business ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a valued member of our society, Mrs. Gertrude L. Mallett. Mrs. Mallett is a conservationist and agriculturalist from Hinds County, Mississippi. Her wisdom ...

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in celebration of National Black History Month and to recognize the lifetime achievements of my good friend, Harold ``Harry'' George Belafonte, Jr., an American and ...

Mr. Speaker, on February 6, 2012, I missed a series of votes. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows:

Mr. Speaker, I rise to raise public knowledge of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, which is February 7-14, 2012. This week encourages all citizens to increase their awareness, education, and ...

Mr. Speaker, the Philadelphia arts community is losing a highly talented administrator and dedicated advocate with the retirement in February of Cheryl McClenney-Brooker as Director of External Affairs for the ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 658, the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act.

Madam Speaker, I don't think there is anyone in this country who supports increasing pay for Members of Congress. I certainly don't, which is why I voted in favor of ...

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the service of a fallen hero, Officer Steven Green of the Mobile, Alabama Police Department, who ...

Mr. Speaker, today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and I rise to highlight the struggle of the African American community against this terrible disease. The theme for this year ...

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of the ``New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act'' (H.R. 2606). This bipartisan legislation will authorize the Secretary ...