Dianne Feinstein

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 22, 2009, at 9 a.m., in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. 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 September 22, 2009, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``World at Risk: The Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009.''

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 22, 2009 at 2:30 p.m.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on September 22, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Strengthening Security and Oversight at Biological Research Laboratories.''

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Landrieu.) Without objection, it is so ordered. Amendment No. 2460

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, this amendment is cosponsored by the ranking member of this committee, Senator Alexander, Senators Bennett, Cochran, Levin, and Schumer. Representative Carolyn McCarthy has been the leader in the House. I thank her for her leadership in enacting the Civil Rights History Project Act into law. This is an amendment that would direct $250,000 in salaries and expenses at the Smithsonian Institution to be used for the Civil Rights History Project. This is a project that was authorized by law in May of this year. It will give us a permanent historical record of the firsthand stories of the individuals who risked and sacrificed in the civil rights movement. The project is modeled after the Veterans History Project and will be housed in the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and the Library of Congress. So for generations to come, historians, students, and the public will be able to listen to civil rights pioneers tell their stories and describe a time that is quickly receding into history. If you think about it, this could be a very exciting teaching tool for future generations. I am very pleased to support this amendment, along with the ranking member of this committee.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I thank the ranking member. I agree with him strongly. I believe it is important to hear the voices of the actual people so the students 20, 50, 75 years from now can really listen to what happened from the mouths of the people who were actually there and participated. You should, once again, know this has been authorized, and it is simply coming right out of salaries and expenses of the Smithsonian. I yield the floor.

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

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Warner of Virginia be added as a cosponsor on the civil rights oral history project amendment, amendment No. 2460, which is before this body.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I believe the ranking member will concur with this. I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I send to the desk a modification of the amendment on the Smithsonian Civil Rights History Project, amendment No. 2460. What this amendment does is simply on line 2 change the word ``shall'' to ``may.''

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 12 noon Tuesday, September 22, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to amendment No. 2460, as modified, with no amendment in order to the amendment prior to the vote, with the time until 12 noon equally divided and controlled between Senators Feinstein and Alexander or their designees.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period for the transaction of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 277, which was submitted earlier today.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 276, submitted earlier today.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. 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 or debate, and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I understand that S. 1687 is at the desk and due for a second reading.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I object to any further proceeding with respect to this bill.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow, September 22; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate proceed to a period of morning business for 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the Republicans controlling the first half and the majority controlling the final half; further, that following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of Calendar No. 98, H.R. 2996, the Interior appropriations bill; finally, I ask that the Senate recess from 12:30 until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons to meet.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, under a previous order, at approximately 12 o'clock the Senate will proceed to a vote in relation to the Feinstein amendment, as modified. For the information of all Senators, the official photograph of the 111th Congress will be taken at 2:15 tomorrow in the Senate Chamber. All Senators are encouraged to be seated at their desks at that time.

Mrs. FEINSTEIN

Mrs. FEINSTEIN. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order.