Kent Conrad

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I raise a point of order that the amendment is not germane.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the adoption of amendment No. 890 by Senator Barrasso, the amendment be modified in the purpose statement. The modification is at the desk.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I have six amendments that have been agreed to by both sides, starting with Kyl amendment No. 980, as modified, on Iran--I think the modification is at the desk.

Mr. CONRAD. The modification is at the desk--Coburn amendment No. 830; Barrasso No. 765; Snowe-Landrieu No. 940; Thune No. 870; and Brown No. 810. I ask unanimous consent those six amendments be agreed to.

Mr. CONRAD. Senator Pryor has the time in opposition.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, now we wish to go to the Sessions amendment No. 969. Senator Sessions.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, Senator Schumer has the time in opposition.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I raise a point of order that the amendment is not germane.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, we are now down to six amendments and final passage. I wish to thank all the colleagues who have helped us get to this point. Amendment No. 963 The next amendment in order would be the DeMint amendment No. 963 on health care.

Mr. CONRAD. I assure you.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask to take this on a voice vote.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, that gives us five. We are going to go to the countdown; five plus final passage. Amendment No. 964 DeMint No. 964 is the next amendment in order.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, Senator Pryor has the time in opposition.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, we are now down to three amendments and final passage, and one of the three can be done on a voice vote. Amendment No. 828 The next amendment in order is Coburn amendment No. 828.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, Senator Murray has the time in opposition.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we accept the amendment.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I thank Senator Vitter, and I also want to take just a moment to thank Senator Crapo for his graciousness in withdrawing an amendment, as well as Senator Martinez for his graciousness in withdrawing an amendment. We appreciate it very much. Amendment No. 937 We are now on to the final amendment before final passage, No. 937, by Senator Vitter.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, Senator Baucus will speak in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CONRAD. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I wish to thank all of our colleagues. This is a tough, difficult day for all of us. I think the Senate has conducted itself well and distinguished itself today. I wish to thank each of our colleagues for that. I especially wish to thank Leader Reid for his support throughout this process; Senator Murray, who I think has a special knack for convincing people not to offer amendments. Thank goodness for Senator Murray. To my colleague, Senator Gregg, you could not ask for a better partner. There is no one more professional, more decent or somebody whose word is better than Senator Gregg. I deeply appreciate it, as well as his professional staff, who have been terrific to work with. On our side, Mary Naylor, my staff director; John Righter and Joel Friedman, my deputies; Joe Gaeta, Steve Bailey, Mike Jones, Jamie Morin, Stu Nagurka, Steve Posner, Sarah Kuehl, and all the others who have contributed. This has been a labor of love. They have worked night and day, weekends for months, and I deeply appreciate their sacrifice.

Mr. CONRAD. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. CONRAD

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 2, 2009, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Recovery and Reinvestment Spending: Implementing a Bold Oversight Strategy.''

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, April 2, 2009, at 10 a.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. CONRAD. 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 Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 10 a.m. in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to hold a hearing entitled, ``Hearing on the Nomination of Regina McCarthy to be Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, of the Environmental Protection Agency.''