Carl Levin

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the majority leader be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills today, November 20.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, passing an unemployment insurance extension today is urgent. More than a million people have lost their jobs this year alone, and there are 10.1 million unemployed individuals. We must ensure that these individuals who have lost jobs and are looking for work, during a time when industries are cutting jobs and the price of food and other necessities is rising, are not also struggling to put food on their table, pay their utility bills, and provide shelter for their families. During economic downturns in the past, we have always provided longer periods of unemployment benefits. The bill that I hope we pass today will provide a much needed unemployment insurance extension. This extension would ensure that out of work Americans in high unemployment States like Michigan will receive an additional 20 weeks of insurance, for a total of up to 59 weeks. In October, Michigan's unemployment rate increased from 8.7 percent to 9.3 percent, the highest unemployment rate since July 1992. The Nation's unemployment rate also increased to 6.5 percent. These are very hard economic times. Unemployment rates are rising dramatically, and since January 2001 we have lost 3.7 million manufacturing jobs nationally and more than 250,000 manufacturing jobs in Michigan. There are currently 429,000 unemployed people in Michigan. Between August 2007 and July 2008, the long-term unemployed--those who have been unemployed and looking for a job for 27 weeks or more--comprise about 27 percent of the total unemployed in Michigan. This is approximately, 100,000 unemployed persons. The numbers of unemployed are rising all over the country. We must do something now to protect American workers and their families.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, for the Committee on Armed Services I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the Records on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Executive Calendar No. 756, that the nomination be confirmed and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, that no further motions be in order, that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 702, and I ask that the resolution be read in full.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I would only say, for those who are either reading the Record at this point or watching or listening to the proceedings, that our leaders spoke last night eloquently about Dave Tinsley, his service to this Senate, to the Nation. Somehow or other, I would love to see this resolution connected with those words that were spoken in a very historic moment last night, with, I think, just about every Senator in the Chamber, with the gallery filled, that if I could make an incorporation by reference, I would love to do that. But I think I better resist the temptation to do that and simply refer our listeners and readers to last night's proceedings. Our leaders spoke for not just every Senator but every member of the staff. Anyone who has known Dave and the great work he has done for us and his loyalty to this institution is grateful for that service and for those wonderful words last night of our leaders. So, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand in recess under the previous order.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the athletes who participated in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The Olympic Games represents the culmination of years of dedication, discipline, intense training, and determination. These Olympians have worked tirelessly and sacrificed much for many years for the honor to represent the United States, and it was a joy and a privilege to watch them compete. The sportsmanship and athleticism exhibited was inspiring, and a sleep-deprived nation was transfixed by the many triumphant and thrilling moments that defined the Summer Games in Beijing. Our athletes competed admirably and embodied the Olympic spirit. The 2008 Summer Olympics provided an opportunity for athletes and viewers from around the globe to witness China's culture and hospitality. As China opened its doors to the world during this 16-day span, they treated us to a visually stunning opening and closing ceremony, which bookended an equally impressive parade of athletic excellence in spectacular venues built specifically for these games. Michigan was well represented in Beijing, upholding our State's long tradition of producing world class athletes. It gives me great pride to recognize the 27 athletes with Michigan roots who represented the United States in the 2008 Summer Games: Mike Hessman in baseball; Tayshaun Prince and Katie Smith in basketball; Courtney King-Dye in equestrian; Sheila Taormina in the modern pentathlon; Ellen Tomek and Matt Hughes in rowing; Carrie Howe in sailing; Daryl Szarenski in shooting; Kate Markgraf and Lindsey Tarpley in soccer; Kara Lynn Joyce, Michael Phelps, Allison Schmitt, Peter Vanderkaay, and Eric Vendt in swimming; Serena Williams in tennis; Ebonie Floyd, Dathan Ritzenhein, Brian Sell, and Anna Willard in track and field; Betsey Armstrong and Alison Gregorka in water polo; and Randi Miller, Adam Wheeler, Andy Hrovat, and Spenser Mango in wrestling. These Michigan athletes proudly represented our State and our Nation and brought home 22 medals: 15 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze. It also comes as no surprise that the State of Michigan, which boasts some of the richest collegiate athletics programs available, has ties to another dozen athletes who competed for their countries in Beijing: Andrew Hurd for Canada in swimming; Alon Mandel for Israel in swimming; Natasha Moodie for Jamaica in swimming; Valeria Silva for Peru in swimming; Nate Brannen, Kevin Sullivan, and Nicole Forrester for Canada in track and field; Adam Harris for Guyana in track and field; Stann Waithe for Trinidad and Tobago in track and field; Nick Willis for New Zealand in track and field; and Janine Hanson and Heather Mandoli for Canada in rowing. Athletes rely heavily on the guidance of trainers, coaches, and others to succeed. It is impossible to overlook the important role these individuals play, as they provide the direction, advice, and support central to transforming gifted athletes into Olympians. The coaches and trainers with ties to Michigan include: Bob Bowman, coach for the U.S. Swim Team; Mike Bottom, coach for the Croatian Swim Team; Steve Fraser, coach for the U.S. Greco Roman Wrestling Team; Lisa Hass, trainer for the U.S. Rowing Team; Scott MacDonald, coach for the Canadian Track and Field Team; Jon Urbancheck, coach for the U.S. Swim Team; and Kevin Jackson, coach for the U.S. Freestyle Wrestling Team. The Olympic Games are charged with emotion. Competing in the Olympics is an honor and an athlete's fleeting opportunity to demonstrate to the world his or her ability. The opportunity to bring home an Olympic medal is an honor that many athletes dream about and only a few ever realize. These athletes shoulder a tremendous amount of pressure, yet they are still able to perform with the eyes of the world upon them. They create history, and moments many will remember for a lifetime. The 2008 Beijing Olympics had its share of moments that have been etched into our minds and hearts and stories that will be told for years to come. Swimming provided some of the most intense moments in the history of the Olympics, and I am proud to join Senator Cardin and others in the Senate in sponsoring S. Res. 700. This resolution, which was passed by the Senate earlier this week, salutes the historic achievements of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team. It also salutes the unprecedented achievements of Michael Phelps, who became the first Olympian to win eight gold medals in a single Olympics. These Olympic Games were full of wonder and joy, and I know I speak for all Michiganders when I express my pride and gratitude to all of the athletes and coaches who participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. These individuals sacrificed countless hours in practice and pushed themselves and their teammates to perform at their best. To the athletes and coaches from Michigan, I extend to you my heartiest congratulations and thanks for representing our State and our Nation with dignity. I know my colleagues in the Senate join me in honoring every athlete who represented Michigan and the United States in Beijing. I wish each athlete future success as they continue to strive for excellence.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I understand that there is not a real possibility that the House of Representatives is going to take up an unemployment insurance extension bill tomorrow. I hope it does. I hope it passes. I would also fervently hope that this body will take up this bill immediately upon our return in mid-November when I understand we will be in session for 2 or 3 days. Passing an unemployment insurance extension is essential. The unemployment insurance extension which was signed into law on June 30 as part of our supplemental war appropriations bill included a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits for all States. This is less of an extension than we provided during economic downturns in the last 25 years because it does not include additional benefits for high-unemployment States. Currently, workers who started receiving the 13-week extension in mid-July, under the current program, will have their benefits cut off in October, and 775,000 workers across the Nation are going to be cut off, including 42,000 in Michigan alone. By the end of this year, the number of individuals who will have exhausted their unemployment benefits will rise to 1.1 million nationally and 58,000 in Michigan. We must ensure that those individuals who have lost their jobs, who are looking for work during a time when our companies are reducing the number of jobs and during a time when the price of food and energy is going up, that these people are not also struggling to put food on the table, to pay their utility bills, and to cover their mortgage payments. We have a bill in the Senate, which I cosponsored, which will provide this much needed unemployment insurance extension. The extension would ensure that out-of-work Americans have an additional 7 weeks as they continue to look for jobs. In high-unemployment States such as Michigan, the States will receive an additional 13 weeks. In August, Michigan's unemployment rate rose from 8.5 percent to 8.9 percent. The Nation's unemployment rate increased by almost half a percentage point to 6.1 percent. That is the highest since 2003. These are very hard economic times. Unemployment rates are rising. Since January of 2001, we have lost over 3.6 million manufacturing jobs nationally and over a quarter million manufacturing jobs in Michigan. The numbers of unemployed are rising all over the country. We must act to protect American workers and their families. The Congress needs to act before we adjourn. That means during that window, that 2- or 3-day window in mid-November. We must seize that opportunity to do what we have done in prior downturns; that is, to give greater protection to workers who are unemployed and desperately looking for work. I ask unanimous consent that a chart comparing the unemployment benefits in this downturn to previous downturns be printed in the Record.

Mr. LEVIN. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LEVIN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to pay tribute and to wish my warmest regards to my dear and truly close friend, John Warner. As I have told John before, I feel very deeply that working so closely with him for the past almost 30 years now was truly one of the highlights of my Senate career. He is a gracious, civil, and wise man. He has been a great friend to me and to my wife Barbara. He has been a great servant to this institution and to the Nation. From the time that he enlisted in the Navy and rose to the rank of petty officer third class during World War II, his service as first lieutenant in the Marines in Korea, to his continued service in the Marine Corps Reserve where he rose to be a captain, to his leadership as Under Secretary and then Secretary of the Navy, John Warner has reliably strengthened our national defense for a remarkable six decades. For the last three decades as a Senator, he has continued the unwavering dedication that he has shown throughout his military career to the men and women in uniform. He is a profile in courage and statesmanship. John Warner and I were elected to the Senate on the same day, November 6, 1978. We have been on the Senate Armed Services Committee our entire careers, and we have worked together on 30 consecutive Defense authorization bills, authorizing funds for the armed services of the United States. We have served with some of the true giants of the Senate together, leaders such as John Stennis, Barry Goldwater, and Sam Nunn. They all understood the critical importance of bipartisanship on national security and defense issues. Over the past few years, as John and I have passed the chairman's gavel back and forth, we have worked together to maintain the spirit and practice of bipartisanship in our leadership of the Armed Services Committee. That spirit has lasted until the final days of this Congress and will last until this Congress is done, just as we have concluded work on the Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, with the lion's share of the credit belonging to John Warner's energy, his passion, and his commitment to supporting our Armed Forces. The bill this year could not have passed without John Warner's support and some very courageous actions on his part. If trust is the currency of Senate dealings, John Warner is a rich man. In our many travels together--to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Somalia, and elsewhere around the world--we have had plenty of time to discuss issues. We focus on areas of agreement, and we have trusted each other completely, even when we stand on opposite sides of an issue. The Senate is an institution whose individual seats are occupied only briefly, compared to our long history. But this institution is placed in the stewardship of each Senator, and I can name no Senator who feels and recognizes and honors that responsibility and that stewardship more than John Warner. Time and time again, John has answered the call of duty on behalf of our Nation's defense, on behalf of the welfare of the men and women and families of our Armed Forces whom he loves and respects so deeply and whose cause he so ably and passionately champions. One of the very first Senators from Virginia, James Monroe, said: National honor is the national property of highest value. Speaking to John's honor, one of John's staff members used to comment that John Warner is a Senator who happened to be from Virginia. What he meant is that John always looks for the course of action that is in the Nation's interest and in the interest of our national security, as well as in the interest of his beloved Virginia. John Warner has embodied the qualities that are our Nation's national greatest honor--integrity, independence, fairness, civility, and strength. Throughout his lifetime of service, he has been an unyielding advocate for causes and policies that embody those qualities. In all of his work, he has upheld the tradition of the distinguished and valuable leaders and patriots from Virginia who have shaped our country over the last three centuries. That is what our country needs in the Senate, and that is what our country expects from the Armed Services Committee. On so many occasions, when important issues arose on a variety of matters which required bipartisan solutions, the search for a partner began and ended with John Warner. I cherish the time that we have worked together. I cherish the deep friendship that has evolved. Barb and I will forever appreciate John and Jeanne's friendship. We expect to enjoy it for a long time. Chuck Hagel Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to recognize and express my appreciation for my friend and colleague Senator Chuck Hagel. I have served in the Senate with Chuck Hagel for the past 12 years. During that time, he has established himself as one who is able to rise above partisanship, and he is respected on both sides of the aisle for his honest appraisals. For the past 2 years, I have had the opportunity to work with Chuck on our bipartisan efforts to change our course in Iraq. We have served together on the Intelligence Committee. When we have agreed on policy, he has been a thoughtful and effective partner; and when we have not, those same qualities served the Senate well nonetheless. Chuck Hagel has brought to the U.S. Senate a deeply held commitment to our nation's troops and veterans and an equally deep understanding of their needs. With that perspective, he has served as an honest broker between parties and positions, and he has been an effective advocate for our brave men and women in uniform as well as for the people of Nebraska. He understands the power of this nation's values, not just of our military, and he has eloquently represented those values. He has defended his extraordinary independent streak with great courage. I extend my thanks to Chuck and wish him and Lilibet all the best in their future endeavors. Pete Domenici Mr. President, after six distinguished terms in the U.S. Senate, Pete Domenici is retiring. I am certain that this change of pace is a challenge in itself for a man who has over the years impressed all of us with his energy and drive and decency. I have had the privilege of serving with Pete Domenici on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, and working with him on that committee's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. I have seen and long respected Senator Domenici's expertise on energy policy; his depth of knowledge in that area has made him a steady voice through many challenges and will be very much missed by his colleagues. The Senate is also losing his great depth of experience on the budget process. Pete Domenici has also earned bipartisan admiration for his extensive work on mental health issues, including his leadership to pass the bipartisan Mental Health Parity Act. I know that mental health issues are very personal to Senator Domenici and his family; his first-hand insights have contributed significantly to congressional efforts to improve mental health care in America. I wish Pete Domenici and his wife Nancy all the best as they enjoy life after the Senate. Wayne Allard Mr. President, today I rise to recognize Senator Wayne Allard, who will retire from the U.S. Senate at the end of this Congress after more than 25 years of serving and representing Colorado in the state senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Wayne Allard's work throughout his career reflects his intense commitment to the people of Colorado. While we frequently disagree on issues, he has earned the respect of his colleagues for his integrity, hard work and the strength and steadfastness of his support for the principles he believes in. I have worked with Wayne Allard as he helped lead our effort to move the National Trails System Willing Seller Act through Congress. Without this bill, a landowner who wants to sell to the Federal Government was denied the right to do so. The legislation provides the Federal Government with the authority to acquire land and easements from willing sellers to complete nine national scenic and historic trails authorized across the Nation. One of those is the North Country Trail, which runs through Michigan. I particularly appreciate Wayne Allard's hard work on this important measure. On the Senate Armed Services Committee he brought his important background and experience as a veteran to our work on the anthrax threat. I offer my thanks and best wishes to Wayne Allard and his wife Joan as they turn to the next chapter of their productive lives. larry craig I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague from Idaho, Senator Larry Craig. As the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, I can particularly appreciate the vital role played by the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Larry served as the chairman of that important committee from 2005 to 2007, and the ranking member since then. During his tenure, Veterans' Affairs has been challenged by two ongoing wars and, more recently, by public revelations of serious deficiencies in our system for caring for our wounded warriors. Helping our Nation's wounded warriors is a cause to which Larry Craig is profoundly committed. He has fought for our deserving and brave veterans, introducing bills to improve educational opportunities and to expand benefits for traumatic injuries. He helped make possible a rare joint hearing between the Veterans' Affairs Committee and the Armed Services Committee to look into the situation at Walter Reed and help formulate the wounded warrior legislation which passed through the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support as part of the Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2008. While Larry Craig and I often been on opposite sides of policy debates, I admire his commitment to his views and to the people of Idaho. In addition to the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Craig serves as the ranking member on the Subcommittees on Interior and Related Agencies, and Superfund and Environmental Health, legislative areas of great concern to the citizens of Boise, the ranchers of Midvale and the skiers of Sun Valley. And today, I join my colleagues in thanking Larry Craig for his service to his State and his country, and I wish him and Suzanne the very best in the future.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I will ask to have printed in the Record a timely opinion piece that was written by Mr. Robert M. Morgenthau, the District Attorney of the County of New York, and appeared in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, September 30. Since the 1960s, Mr. Morgenthau has been a leader in the fight against the abuse of offshore havens for fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and a host of other illicit activities. As Congress votes on a plan to restore the soundness and credibility of our financial system, Mr. Morgenthau's column correctly reminds us of a factor that contributed significantly to this financial crisis-- the activities of financial institutions that have hidden away trillions of dollars in offshore tax havens and that claim to be domiciled in those offshore havens, when all of their key personnel and operations are here in the United States. Mr. Morgenthau points out that this charade places these trillions of dollars, and the activities of the entities that control them, outside the oversight and supervisory control of the U.S. financial regulatory system. As the hearings held by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which I chair, have demonstrated, this charade is also a breeding ground for tax abuse, draining our system of billions of dollars in needed tax revenues. In his article, Mr. Morgenthau reminds us that the supervisory and safety mechanisms that have been established to protect our citizens and their savings are dependent on transparency and strong regulatory vigilance. So is our tax system. When funds are hidden in offshore jurisdictions that promote secrecy and weak regulatory standards, and the funds are controlled by entities that claim they are not subject to our regulatory system, the safety net that we have established cannot function to provide our citizens the security it was designed to offer. While we have voted on a plan to alleviate the current crisis, we have a lot more work to do to rectify the root causes of this problem. As Mr. Morgenthau points out, the abuse of offshore jurisdictions by financial institutions must be high on that agenda, and I look forward to addressing this matter in the next Congress. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have the opinion piece to which I referred printed in the Record.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I have the honor of rising today to recognize an important part of Detroit's public education, my alma mater, Detroit Central High School, which is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its opening. Since 1858, when the first 24 students entered a single classroom, thousands of students have passed through its doors. It was originally conceived to help prepare students to study at the University of Michigan, then just a few decades old itself. Today, Central has been continuously accredited by the University of Michigan for more than 135 consecutive years. It has occupied the current location at Tuxedo Avenue and La Salle Boulevard for more than 80 years. I was fortunate to study and walk the halls there for 4 of those years. Central alumni have gone on to win a Nobel Prize and win Grammy Awards; make countless contributions to the Detroit community and to Michigan; own professional sports teams and play professional sports; and fight on behalf of our Nation in war, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice. In all these pursuits and many more, Central alumni have been challenged to live up to our school's motto, adopted in 1861: Carpe Diem, ``seize the day.'' Our experiences at Central have helped prepare us to do that. Recently, Central has faced challenges unparalleled in the school's history. School budgets are tighter than ever, standardized tests offer frustrating assessments of progress, and dropout rates and graduation rates alike moved in the wrong directions. But, thanks to the hard work and commitment of over 1,000 current students and teachers, in the past few years Central has begun an impressive turnaround that is heartening to us alumni. I offer my congratulations on this 150th anniversary and every hope that Detroit Central High School will continue to provide excellent education and imbue students with the skills and outlook to seize the day and find success in school and in the years that follow.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a great citizen of Michigan, the Honorable Avern Cohn. Avern has distinguished himself as a leader among leaders in Michigan's legal community and the Michigan community at large. Later this month Avern's synagogue, Congregation Shaarey Zedek, will offer a tribute to him and I am honored to join in recognizing his many accomplishments and contributions to our community life that he has so strengthened and supported. Professionally, for nearly three decades Judge Cohn has served on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He currently serves as the Senior Judge, a position he has held for the past nine years. His quick wit and sharp mind have left a lasting impression on the countless attorneys who have argued before him. Throughout his career, Avern's guiding beacon has been justice, and his legacy is one of true independence and impartiality. Avern's commitment to justice in Michigan has extended well beyond his courtroom. He is a past director of the Detroit Bar Association, a former trustee of the Detroit Bar Foundation, and served as director of the American Judicature Society. Before he was appointed to the court, he led a successful private practice that continues to flourish today. He also served the people of Michigan in an array of positions including as chairperson of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, chairperson of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners, and as a member of the Michigan Social Welfare Commission. As a member of the board of trustees of Shaarey Zedek, a former president of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, and a past vice president of the American Jewish Committee, Avern has used his intellect and drive to the great benefit of our Jewish community. He has also helped bring the focus and resources of these organizations to the fight for the poorest and most vulnerable among us. He is a mensch in the truest sense: his wholehearted dedication to a host of noble causes has marked his character and his life. I should mention as well that it was Avern's father who introduced my parents to each other. I am proud to call Avern my cousin. Avern is recognized far and wide as a rarity. All who have known him, who have had the good fortune to work with him, or who have come before him are appreciative of his unique commitment to doing what is right. Many who have never heard his name have benefited and will continue to benefit from his lifetime of good deeds. Barb joins me in offering our thanks and congratulations to Avern. Mazel Tov!

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 7222, which was received from the House. The clerk will report the bill by title.

Mr. LEVIN. I ask unanimous consent that a Reid substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements related to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. LEVIN. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in recess and convene at 3 p.m. on Monday, October 6, 2008, for a pro forma session with no business conducted, except with the concurrence of the two leaders; that following the pro forma session, the Senate recess for pro forma sessions with no business conducted on the following days and times: Tuesday, October 7 at 11 a.m.; Friday, October 10 at 11 a.m.; Tuesday, October 14 at 12:30 p.m.; Thursday, October 16 at 10 a.m.; Monday, October 20 at 3 p.m.; Thursday, October 23 at 2 p.m.; Monday, October 27 at 9 a.m.; Thursday, October 30 at 9:15 a.m.; Monday, November 3 at 10 a.m.; Thursday, November 6 at 11 a.m.; Monday, November 10 at 1 p.m.; and Thursday, November 13 at 3 p.m. I further ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its pro forma session on Thursday, November 13, the Senate recess until 12 noon on Monday, November 17, and that following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, 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 with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, the Senate will be in pro forma sessions until November 17, unless the House of Representatives fails to pass or amends H.R. 1424, the economic stabilization legislation. If the Senate is required to act further, the Senate could resume legislative session on Monday, October 6.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 440, the adjournment resolution, which is at the desk.