When the Senate began debate on the Kansas-Nebraska bill, Stephen Douglas was the first to defend it.

VOA: special.2009.04.23

In the Senate, sixty votes are needed to prevent unlimited debate on a bill.

VOA: special.2010.01.22

And the Senate agreed Saturday to begin full debate on its own bill.

VOA: special.2009.11.25

He said he looked forward to a full debate on the issue.

VOA: special.2010.05.27

Protesters gathered on the Capitol lawn during the debate, yelling in an attempt to make their own voices heard.

VOA: standard.2010.03.22

He called for people on both sides of the debate to keep an open mind and to stop demonizing each other.

VOA: standard.2009.05.17

In the final hours of debate on the Senate bill, Republicans asserted it would be ineffective and add sharply to the U.S.budget deficit.

VOA: standard.2009.12.25

A final televised debate is to take place next Thursday, followed by the election on May 6.

VOA: standard.2010.04.23

"I think his motivation is first is to show that he's around." "That he is capable of making decisions or participating in debate on policy."

VOA: standard.2010.07.13

But Mr.Obama used the opportunity to comment on the tone of the national debate.

VOA: standard.2009.08.11

"We welcome sanctions." He went on to say that Iran has "given its package of proposals" to the world community to debate and resolve the crisis.

VOA: standard.2009.09.03

It was an unusual Saturday night showdown in the U.S.Senate on whether a health care reform bill pushed by Democrats should proceed to the floor for full debate.

VOA: standard.2009.11.23

The U.S.Senate is expected to begin debate on financial reforms this week.

VOA: standard.2010.04.19

As President Obama loses ground in the debate on overhauling health care, he is using his weekly Internet address to challenge what he calls "phony claims" by his critics.

VOA: standard.2009.08.22

So what does it mean to be French today? President Nicolas Sarkozy has tapped another French staple the love of debate to launch a three-month, national conversation on the subject.

VOA: standard.2009.12.30

In a Labor Day speech before union workers on Monday, Mr.Obama said it is time for lawmakers to end the debate over health care and pass legislation for him to sign.

VOA: standard.2009.09.08

"I think he ought to do what General Petraeus did and that is decide on exactly the number he needs and we debate it and the president makes the ultimate decision,".

VOA: standard.2009.08.23

The closure of the country's nuclear facility comes amid a debate on how to establish a more secure energy future for the European Union, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies.

VOA: standard.2010.01.01

We have got to do something,". Earlier Saturday, in his weekly internet address, Mr.Obama said the country has had a long and important debate on health reform, but it is time to act.

VOA: standard.2009.09.12

"But they have to be a little bit careful to overstate that." Both political parties also see the continuing congressional debate on health care reform as a key factor in next year's midterm elections.

VOA: standard.2009.10.23

But central to the debate going on in Britain is the very credibility of the Afghan government as more and more question whether British lives should be put at risk in support of what is seen as a less than clean Hamid Karzai government.

VOA: standard.2009.11.04