Tom Harkin

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I understand that S. 2461 is at the desk and due for a second reading.

Mr. HARKIN. I object to any further proceedings with respect to the bill.

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I understand S. 2483, introduced earlier today by Senator Bingaman, is at the desk. I ask for its first reading.

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m., Friday, December 14; that on Friday, following the prayer and the 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 then resume consideration of H.R. 2419, and that all time during any recess or adjournment count postcloture; further, that upon disposition of H.R. 2419, the Senate then turn to the consideration of Calendar No. 481, S. 2338, as provided for under a previous order.

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that S. 2407 be star printed, with the changes at the desk.

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. This bill includes reauthorization of the Commodity Exchange Act. One of the issues addressed in the reauthorization is the problem of so-called ``rolling spot'' contracts, a type of contract that unscrupulous criminals use to defraud retail customers while avoiding the jurisdiction of the Commission. Because of several adverse court decisions addressing rolling spot contracts used in retail foreign exchange fraud, the Commission has been severely hampered in its efforts to protect consumers. This reauthorization clarifies the jurisdiction of the Commission over these ``rolling spot'' contracts. In addition, because these ``rolling spot'' contracts have begun to be used in other commodities such as metals, this reauthorization clarifies the Commission's authority to address ``rolling spot'' contracts should they spread to other agricultural or exempt commodities.

Mr. HARKIN. Yes.

Mr. HARKIN. No. The provisions explicitly say that they have no effect on whether contracts are considered legal futures contracts or not.

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

Mr. HARKIN. I ask unanimous consent that the Wyden amendment No. 3736 be withdrawn.

Mr. HARKIN. I thank the Senator. It is my understanding that she would like to speak about an issue facing the sugar beet industry in California.

Mr. HARKIN. I ask the Senator, how has this decrease in California's portion of the national allocation impacted growers and other sugar beet refineries in your State?

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate may proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 481, S. 2338, at a time to be determined by the majority leader following consultation with the Republican leader, and that when the bill is considered, it be considered under the following limitations: that the only first-degree amendments in order be the following, and that the time for debate for the Coburn amendment be limited to 60 minutes equally divided and controlled in the usual form; that there be 30 minutes of general debate on the bill equally divided and controlled; Dodd-Shelby amendment relating to a moratorium; Coburn amendment relating to reverse mortgages; that upon the use or yielding back of all time, the disposition of all amendments, the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill.

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate a message from the House with respect to S. 597, Breast Cancer Stamp Reauthorization. The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message:

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate concur in the House amendments and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Environment and Public Works Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2671 and that the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record, without intervening action or debate.

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 536, S. 1916.

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2484, introduced earlier today.

Mr. HARKIN

Mr. HARKIN. 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, December 13, 2007, at 9 a.m. in room SD-406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in order to conduct a hearing entitled, ``The Clean Water Act following the recent Supreme Court decisions in Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County and Rapanos-Carabell.''

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, December 13, 2007. at 10 a.m., in room SD-215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Housing Decline: The Extent of the Problem and Potential Remedies.''

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, December 13, 2007, at a time to be determined in room SD-215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to consider the nominations of Christopher A. Padilla, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade; Christina H. Pearson, to be Assistant Secretary Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Benjamin Eric Sasse, to be Assistant Secretary Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Charles E.F. Millard, to be Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, December 13, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. in order to hold a hearing on global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.