mrs. murray: mr. president? the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mrs. murray: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent the committee-reported amendment be considered, the murray amendment which is at the desk be agreed to, the committee-reported amendment as amended to be agreed to, the bill as amended be read a third time. the presiding officer: without objection. the clerk will read the bill for the third time. the clerk: calendar number 564, s. 3313, a bill to amend title 38 united states code to approve the assistance provided -- mrs. murray: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent the reading be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. the question is on passage of the bill. all those in favor say aye. those opposed. it appears the ayes have it. the ayes do have it. the bill is passed. mrs. murray: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from washington. mrs. murray: i ask unanimous consent the committee-reported title amendment

mrs. murray: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, i ask unanimous consent the quorum call be lifted. the presiding officer: the senate is currently in session. mrs. murray: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, i come to the floor today to request that we have unanimous consent for s. 3313, which is the women veterans and other health care improvement act of 2012, which was unanimously supported by the members of the veterans' affairs committee to be moved out of this body today. mr. president, this legislation not only builds upon previous laws that we passed to improve v.a. services for women veterans and veterans with families, but it also brings a new focus to the need for the v.a. to do more to help women veterans and the spouses of male veterans access assistance for one of the most impactful and serious wounds of these wars. reproductive and urinary tract trauma. as many of you know, the nature of the current conflicts and the use of improvised explosive devices leaves service members far more susceptible to thos

mrs. murray: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from washington. mrs. murray: mr. president, i come to the floor today to pay tribute to an american hero, a great senator, an amazing man, and a dear friend, senator danny inouye. senator inouye dedicated his life to public service and through his hard and faithful work he has left his nation around the state that he loves so dearly far better in so many ways. we will all hear a lot about -- in the days ahead about the barriers that danny broke down over the course of his life. we will hear about his service in times of war and in peace, about his heroism, about his love for his family and state and country, and we'll hear about the admiration and respect he's earned from so many of us here in the senate on both sides of the aisle. over the course of a long and very storied career. but, mr. president, what i want to focus on for a minute today is the danny inouye who's been there for me as a friend and mentor for the past 20 years. who's been a shining light in this chamber and has set an example for all of us who me

quorum call: quorum call: mrs. murray: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from washington. mrs. murray: i ask unanimous consent the quorum call be lifted. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. murray: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, middle-class families in our country today are paying very close attention to what we are doing here in washington, d.c. they really understand what is at stake. they know that the impact our decisions will have on their lives, and they keep hoping that their elected officials will finally come together around a budget deal that works for them. less than a month ago, we concluded an election season that engaged our nation in a conversation about this very issue. candidates for the presidency and for the senate on down all laid out their positions on some of the key questions that we are now hoping to answer. should the middle-class tax cuts be extended? should the bush tax cuts on the rich end? should we end the medicare guarantee for our seniors and the next generation? well,

mr. michaud, and all the members of the committee and the subcommittees for their advocacy in the provisions of this bill. i also want to thank senators from the other side of the capitol complex, ms. murray and mr. burr, for their work on improving these provisions. you know, it's great working with members that show that when it comes to veterans issues, both sides, both sides can really come together and agree on issues for the common good. the first pertains to cemetery matters. in june of this year, an inthe distinguished gentleman from nant veteran was buried in a cardboard box in my home state of florida. i, like many of my colleagues, was shocked and appalled to hear this news. and as a result several sections of this legislation directly address that specific issue and it will ensure that all eligible veterans, regardless of their personal or financial situation, will receive a dignified burial at a v.a. national cemetery. this will include providing v.a. the authority to provide a casket, yearn or other acceptable burial container with a veteran has no known next of kin and are unable to provide one. this legislation would also provide for more efficient communication between v.

mr. merkley: i ask unanimous consent the murray substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to,the bill as amend be read three times and passed, the the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any related statements be interprosecuted in the record as if read. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. merkley: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the consideration of calendar number 493, h.r. 6029. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 493, h.r. 6029, an act to amend title 19 of the united states code and so forth and for other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection, senate will proceed to the measure. mr. merkley: i ask unanimous consent that a kohl-lee substitute amendment, which is at the desks be be agreed to, the bill as amend be passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be placed in the record at the appropriate place as if read. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. merkley: i ask unanim