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Objection is heard. The bill will be placed on the calendar.

The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer: Let us pray. Eternal spirit, the fountain of life and truth, You make our plans succeed. Today, shine the light ...

The Senator is correct.

The majority leader is recognized.

Under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved.

Mr. President, I am going to proceed on my leader time.

What actually happened a couple years after that incident was that USDA's Wildlife Service agents went into the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, rounded up and killed 751 Canadian geese. The ...

The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. It is important that we are doing this early in the 113th Congress and ...

Excuse me?

The Senator from Minnesota.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

The clerk will call the roll.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum and ask unanimous consent the time be equally divided.

Mr. President, I wonder if the distinguished Senator from New Hampshire would yield to me for a moment.

For 7 or 8 minutes.

Mr. President, there has long been bipartisan support for the Violence Against Women Act. Too many women are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence. Federal support ...

The Senator from New Mexico.

Mr. President, I ask the Senator from Iowa, Mr. Grassley, is he in the queue to speak?

Mr. President, I come to the floor to speak on the Violence Against Women Act, but before I do that, I wish to say I appreciate the comments of my ...

The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

The Senator has that right.

Mr. President, I thank the Senator for her words. The Senator from Washington State has been a consistent and clear supporter of the Violence Against Women Act. I especially applaud ...

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: AEquitas, the Prosecutors' Resource on Violence Against Women, Washington, DC, February 4, 2013. Hon. ...

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Vermont, Mr. Leahy, both for his kind words and the tremendous leadership he has shown over the years in first passing this legislation ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the time until 2 p.m. be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees; that following the swearing in of ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.

Mr. President, first, I wish to applaud the distinguished leader Senator Reid for his statement. He has helped us over and over again to get this bill to the floor. ...

Without objection, it is so ordered.

The Chair lays before the 12:03 Senate a Certificate of Appointment to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. The certificate, the Chair is ...

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

Mr. President, in my previous life, I was attorney general of the State of Texas. In that capacity, I had the opportunity to work with numerous victim rights groups, primarily ...

Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Due to what is happening here, I would say that if he doesn't make his presentation in 5 minutes that we could vote.

[Rollcall Vote No. 13 Leg.] YEAS--34 Alexander Barrasso Blunt Boozman Burr Chambliss Coats Cochran Corker Cornyn Enzi Fischer Flake Graham Grassley Hatch Heller Hoeven Inhofe Isakson Johanns Johnson (WI) McCain ...

The Republican leader.

The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Coburn).

Mr. President, a few minutes ago Senator Carl Levin cast his 12,000th vote. It is my honor to say a few words about Carl Levin. He has served the State ...

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum, and I ask unanimous consent that the time during the quorum be equally divided.

The Senator from Vermont.

The Senator from Ohio.

Madam President, on behalf of Senator Grassley, and probably to his dismay, I call up the Grassley amendment.

The clerk will report the amendment.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor one of our Nation's true heroes--Army SSG Clinton Romesha.

Madam President, under the unanimous consent request agreement, am I correct the Grassley substitute is to be voted on in about 30 seconds?

Mr. President, I thank Senators Murray, Shaheen, Begich, Udall of New Mexico, Klobuchar, Murkowski, Hagan and Franken for their statements today in support of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.

The assistant bill clerk read as follows:

Mr. President, I am proud to join my colleagues today in support of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. I do so not just as a Senator but ...

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

Madam President, the Republican substitute bill being offered by the Senator from Iowa does not meet the needs of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Respectfully, ...

The Senator from Michigan.

The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

The bill clerk called the roll.

Parliamentary inquiry, Madam President: What is the order right now?

Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote?

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for up to 15 minutes.

The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.

I ask unanimous consent that further reading be dispensed with.

At 4 o'clock?

The amendment has not yet been offered.

Thank you, Mr. President. By the way, what a pleasure it is to see the new Senator presiding.

Madam President, normally I would call it up, but I understand Senator Grassley is almost here. As a matter of courtesy, I will not call it up; but if there ...

The Senator is correct.

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

Mr. President, pending before the Senate is the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. We considered it over a year ago. The bipartisan reauthorization passed the Senate with 68 votes more ...

The Senator from Washington.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Mark Sullivan, who is retiring from his position as Director of the United States Secret Service on February 22, 2013.

Mr. President, today, I want to pay tribute to an exceptional, Illinoisan who passed away this weekend.

Mr. President, today I wish to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the enactment of The Family and Medical Leave Act, FMLA. For 20 years, this historic law has helped individuals ...

Mr. President, please let the record show that I was in Minot, ND, on January 29, 2013, to speak at the funeral and honor the life of Chester Reiten when ...

Rhode Island is mourning the loss of one of our most renowned and accomplished citizens. Richard Walton was an activist, a teacher, a journalist, and a force for good in ...

The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated: POM-1. A resolution adopted by the Municipal Legislature ...

The following bills were read the first and the second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated: H.R. 225. An act to amend title IV of the Public Health ...

The following bill was read the second time, and placed on the calendar: S. 209. A bill to require a full audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal ...

The following executive reports of nominations were submitted: By Mr. LEAHY for the Committee on the Judiciary. Robert E. Bacharach, of Oklahoma, to be United States Circuit Judge for the ...

The following concurrent resolutions and Senate resolutions were read, and referred (or acted upon), as indicated: By Mr. MORAN (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar): S. Res. 26. A resolution recognizing ...

Mr. President, today I introduce, along with my colleague, Senator Stabenow, the Community Based Mental Health Infrastructure Improvements Act.

Mr. President, as we start Black History Month, I rise today to discuss a national hero that I have spoken about many times on the Senate floor. 2013 is a ...

By Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Mikulski, and Mrs. Gillibrand):

Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce, with my colleague Lisa Murkowski, the Ranking Member on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and at the request of the ...

S. 259. A bill to assure equity in contracting between the Federal Government and small business concerns, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the No Firearms for Foreign Felons Act of 2013. This bill would close a loophole in current law, by ensuring that people ...

S. 265. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants for community-based mental health infrastructure improvement; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S. 247. A bill to establish the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, New York, and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot ...

S. 234. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation ...

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

Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Isakson, and Mr. Levin) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 27 Whereas the American School Counselor Association ...

Strike section 302 and insert the following: SEC. 302. CREATING HOPE THROUGH OUTREACH, OPTIONS, SERVICES, AND EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. Subtitle L of the Violence Against Women Act of ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 7, 2013, at 2:30 p.m.

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, to conduct a hearing entitled ...

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 7, 2013, at 10:30 ...

In accordance with the appropriate provisions of law, the Secretary of the Senate herewith submits the following reports for standing committees of the Senate, certain joint committees of the Congress, ...

The Chair, on behalf of the Republican leader, pursuant to Public Law 112-272, appoints the following individual to be a member of the World War I Centennial Commission: Jerry L. ...

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to S. Res. 27.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H. Con. Res. 11.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m., Monday, February 11, 2013; that following the prayer and pledge, the ...

The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be printed as a Senate document a compilation of materials from the Congressional Record in tribute to the retiring Members of the ...

(The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

The clerk will report the resolution by title.

Mr. President, before I ask unanimous consent to pass this, I would just say it is extremely important this be brought to the attention of the Senate. Around the country ...

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

Executive nominations received by the Senate: THE JUDICIARY RAYMOND T. CHEN, OF MARYLAND, TO BE UNITED STATES CIRCUIT JUDGE FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT, VICE RICHARD LINN, RETIRED. TODD M. HUGHES, ...