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The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy 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 ...

Mr. President, under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. Under the previous order, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 1:30 p.m. for debate ...

The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer: Let us pray. Eternal God, today give our Senators the second wind of Your passion, power, and perseverance. Fill them ...

The majority leader is recognized.

The Senator from Illinois.

No one would believe this, but I did not know Senator Durbin was going to say a word. Most of what he said is unimportant, but I appreciate his efforts ...

Mr. President, I am stunned by what didn't happen in the House of Representatives last night. I appreciate that they, with the support of all but a handful of Democrats ...

Mr. President, I know the distinguished majority leader is about to propound a unanimous consent request. I ask unanimous consent to proceed for 1 minute.

Mr. President, the majority leader is not a person to praise himself, but I will.

The clerk will call the roll.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I want to join in the remarks of the majority leader. What a disappointment to learn that last night the House of Representatives failed to bring up the ...

Mr. President, I have a question for the distinguished Senator from Alabama, for whom I have very high regard. He has been my ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, and ...

The Senator from Alabama.

Excuse me, I am sorry, Alabama. If the Senator listened to my floor presentation, he would know I already agree with much of what he said.

Now, the constitutional principle was made, and it has been acknowledged by three Vice Presidents, it has been used a number of times in the past. The reason we are ...

I have the floor, and I will yield for a question in just a second.

The rule that was changed, when we lowered--

I appreciate my colleague coming to the floor and starting to talk about rules. As I was listening back in my office to the Senator's presentation, and he may have ...

Mr. President, will my colleague yield for a question?

I thank my colleague from Rhode Island for his very lucid commentary.

The Senator from Alabama--I think we overlapped as attorneys general, and we are good friends--raised this whole issue, and he used the phrase, which has been frequently used on the ...

I thank the Senator for his advocacy, but I do believe that final vote to change the rule was by a two-thirds vote. If you get a two-thirds vote, you ...

I will yield to my former U.S. attorney colleague without yielding the floor. He is younger, and a fine member of the Judiciary Committee and a capable Member of the ...

Mr. President, would the Senator yield briefly?

Alabama.

Right. I think that is true.

I think my colleague from Mississippi----

Would the Senator yield?

Is the same true on both conference reports and final passage? Neither of those involve amendments, but have there been extensive filibuster efforts to keep this body from ever being ...

Right.

Mr. President, may I reclaim the floor for one moment? I will yield the floor, not just for a question--I will yield the floor to the Senator from Alabama with ...

And when the accommodation was reached, then the rule was changed.

Would the Senator yield for a question?

My concern, which I have expressed in my conference, is I don't like the idea that we codify in the rules explicit supersenatorial power to a chairman and a ranking ...

Is the same true of efforts to get to a conference committee after we have already passed a bill and all the amendments have been previously considered?

May I answer the question?

Mr. President, regaining the floor.

The Senator from Alabama, my good friend and former attorney general colleague, asked the question--when he was answering the last question I asked--has this constitutional procedure for determining Senate rules ...

There is no constitutional power for a leader. I love Mitch McConnell. He does not get to pick my amendments. Where did this come from? You just got elected. You ...

This is a good question. Let me tell my colleague how it happens in the real world of the minority party.

Mr. President, 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 ...

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 ...

The Senator from Maryland has hit it on the head. Look at what we are talking about on a motion to proceed. I think it would surprise the American people ...

The Senator from Maryland has really hit it on the head. You do not have to go any further than today's Executive Calendar. We all have them on our desks. ...

The Senator from New Mexico is recognized.

I thank my colleague from New Mexico. I am going to be very brief, because in 2 minutes I am taking the chair so my colleague from Maryland can continue ...

Without objection, it is so ordered.

So my colleague from New Mexico has made this powerful case about our responsibility and about the opportunity provided under the Constitution, and I have been immersed in trying to ...

Without objection, the colloquy is extended.

I thank my colleague very much, and let me say to my colleague from Oregon, who has been a real leader on this, he has been diligent, he has studied ...

To the Senator from Maryland, I have one more question if he has time. First I want to respond as to the motion to proceed and what he has just ...

I probably am in a position that most of the Members of this body are not in. I have served on one conference committee--I have been here 6 years--and it ...

The Senator from New Mexico has been the one who has brought this to us, and I know he has included others and certainly Senator Merkley has been in the ...

The Senator from Maryland hit on a couple of incredibly important points here, and I hope he has a minute or two to further engage in a colloquy.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that morning business be extended until 5 p.m., with all other provisions remaining in effect.

I will finish by thanking my friend, a very close colleague on this particular issue, the Senator from Oregon. I know he has worked diligently on framing the talking filibuster, ...

Mr. CONRAD: Mr. President, I want to take a moment to honor the life and career of my colleague and friend, Senator Daniel Inouye, who passed away on Monday, December ...

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to my colleagues, Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and Olympia Snowe.

Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to an outstanding orthopaedic surgeon, mentor and friend. Dr. Wayne Southwick has had a remarkable career. The author of over 100 peer ...

The following measure was discharged from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and referred as indicated: H.R. 6655. An act to establish a commission to develop a national ...

The following reports of committees were submitted: By Mr. ROCKEFELLER, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Report to accompany S. 692, a bill to improve hurricane preparedness by ...

The following concurrent resolutions and Senate resolutions were read, and referred (or acted upon), as indicated: By Mr. WARNER (for himself, Mr. Webb, Mr. McCain, and Mr. Wicker): S. Res. ...

SENATE RESOLUTION 630--CONGRATULATING THE NAVY AND THE CURRENT AND FORMER OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE ``U.S.S. ENTERPRISE'' (CVN 65) ON COMPLETION OF THE 26TH AND FINAL DEPLOYMENT OF THE VESSEL ...

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session and the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of the following nominations: PN 1928, and ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session and the HELP Committee be discharged from further consideration of the following nomination: PN 1404; that the ...

The Chair lays before the Senate the letter of resignation of Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina, which shall be printed in the Record.

The bill clerk read as follows:

The filing date for the 2012 fourth quarter Mass Mailing report is Friday, January 25, 2013. If your office did no mass mailings during this period, please submit a form ...

Mr. President, Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa once said ``Safety and security don't just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our ...

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.

Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the bill by title.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

If there is no further debate, the question is, Shall the bill pass.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 3716.

The clerk will report the bill by title.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.

The preamble was agreed to.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.

The bill clerk read as follows:

The preamble, with its preamble, reads as follows:

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order.

The clerk will report the resolution by title.

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 ...

Without objection, it is so ordered.

The House met at 10 a.m. and was called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Rivera).

The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following communication from the Speaker: Washington, DC, January 2, 2013. I hereby appoint the Honorable David Rivera to act as Speaker ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for 3 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, it was to my profound disappointment that I learned last night that the House would adjourn the 112th Congress without providing assistance to the victims of Superstorm Sandy.

Mr. Speaker, sometimes events occur that are so out of the ordinary, so unusual as to defy belief. Such is the decision of the Speaker last night not to permit ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Grimm) for 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) for 3 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) for 2\1/2\ minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) for 5 minutes.

Let me thank Mr. King, my colleague from New York, for his remarks. I really appreciate what he said--that this is not a Republican or Democratic issue. It shouldn't be ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 2\1/2\ minutes.

Mr. Speaker, as the 112th Congress ends with a whimper, not a bang, not so much finished as worn out, I was prepared to come to the floor this morning ...

I was just asking my friend, Joe Crowley, is there a legislative possibility that we could bring this to the floor. I think everybody has enough compassion for the Speaker ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo) for 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy) for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, last night when I came to the floor for the first time since I've been in this body, my heart was hurting. I understand politics, but this should ...

Mr. Speaker, we're here this morning for the fellow citizens who didn't put up a Christmas tree or light a menorah or celebrate their holiday at home this year because ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reed) for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a different subject, one that I think we can all be pleased about. I rise in honor of Virginia State Police Trooper Philip Battel, ...

The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro) for 2\1/2\ minutes.

Well, you've heard it. Our constituents' lives were devastated by the Sandy disaster. It has now been about 9 weeks since Hurricane Sandy brought the winds and the tidal surges. ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, here we are again today in wonder over the decision that we think has been made by the Republican leadership in the House not to bring legislation to ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) for 5 minutes.

I rise today to express my feelings of anger, frustration, and disbelief that the Republican leadership has failed to fulfill this promise on emergency supplemental disaster aid for the victims ...

When Hurricane Sandy struck on October 29 in eastern Connecticut's Long Island Sound with 90-mile-per-hour winds and high tide, it created a path of destruction never seen before. Homes were ...

The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) for 1 minute.

I remember two things of that horrible night that Sandy hit my community in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Of course, I remember the devastation and the damage that we have so ...

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) for 1 minute.

Unfortunately, the Chair cannot entertain that request during morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may revise and extend their remarks on the issue that has been before the House in these 5-minute speeches.

Mr. Speaker, as the only New York City member of the Appropriations Committee, what I saw last night is something that I hadn't seen before. Whenever a disaster hit any ...

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

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

The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: God of the universe, we give You thanks for giving us another day. As the Members of the people's ...

Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair declares the House in recess subject to the call of the Chair.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 3250) to amend the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to provide for Debbie ...

The Clerk will report the amendments.

The text of the bill is as follows:

The bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

The amendments were agreed to.

Senate amendment:

Is there objection to the original request of the gentleman from Texas?

There was no objection.

Mr. SMITH of Texas (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading.

The Clerk read as follows:

Under clause 2 of rule XII, Mr. STEARNS introduced a resolution (H. Res. 845) amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to establish a standing Committee on Repeals; which ...

The Senate was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2013, at 12 noon.House of RepresentativesThursday, January 3, 2013 The House met at ...

The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: God of the universe, we give You thanks for giving us another day. In the final hour of the ...

The Speaker announced his signature to enrolled bills and a Joint Resolution of the Senate of the following titles: S. 2318. An act to authorize the Secretary of State to ...

Karen L. Haas, Clerk of the House, reported and found truly enrolled bills of the House of the following titles, which were thereupon signed by the Speaker: H.R. 8. An ...

Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public bills and resolutions as follows: H.R. 6606: Ms. Norton. H.R. 6690: Mr. Walberg. H.R. 6728: Ms. Norton.

Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: [Omitted from the Record of January ...

Mr. Speaker, last month the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights held a hearing which examined U.S. policy regarding the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and pay tribute to Lyle W. Minter, of Fairfax, Virginia, on the occasion of his retirement after 36 years of Federal service. Mr. Minter's ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise to share with my colleagues a poignant story from a local newspaper about the experiences of a prominent African-American veteran and corporate leader in our community ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce and to congratulate those members who are being honored for their contributions to the business and local ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and the Benjamin Harrison Society's work ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act which contains a very special provision, the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Benjamin Bissell, of Fairfax Station, as a recipient of the 2012 State Department Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) and a participant in the CLS Russian ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Amanda Michette, of Springfield, as a 2012 State Department Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) recipient. Amanda was selected for this competitive award based on her ...

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) and to congratulate it on the occasion of its 30th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent due to the passing of my mother and was not present for rollcall votes on Sunday, December 30 and Monday December 31, 2012. Had I ...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to clarify my position on a vote cast on December 13, 2012. The vote was on the Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4310--the National ...

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, December 30, 2012, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yes'' on vote No. 649 (on ...