Barbara Mikulski

Ms. MIKULSKI

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, many of our colleagues have filed amendments. I want to soon recognize the Senator from North Dakota who, I know, wants to speak on a tribal issue. First, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, this amendment, as modified, has been cleared on both sides of the aisle. I ask for its immediate adoption.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I send a modification to the desk.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, the last amendment I have cleared is amendment No. 3219 by Senator Murray. I ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 3219

Ms. MIKULSKI. I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3210 by Senator Bingaman and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 3210

Ms. MIKULSKI. This amendment has been cleared on both sides. I ask for its immediate adoption.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3222 by Senator Landrieu and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I compliment the Senator from Wisconsin on his comments and his compelling defense for the oppressed, and particularly his eloquent and poignant description of what is happening to women there in the Congo, which should motivate us more to action. I am happy to report we are getting momentum here and are clearing our amendments. We have some right now that I wish to clear. In a few minutes, we will be going to the NASA amendment. Mr. President, I thank everybody on both sides of the aisle, and especially Senator Shelby and his team for being great in helping us with this. Many Senators are being cooperative. Amendment No. 3222

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, we are continuing to clear our amendments, and at or about 2 o'clock, we will begin our debate on the NASA amendment, which we expect will take roughly about 2 hours. At the conclusion of that, we want Senators who have amendments to have either brought them over for consideration, to have either worked with us to clear the amendments, to be either offering the amendments or withdrawing the amendments, so that we can meet our goal to be done in the early evening. We believe we can meet that goal with cooperation. We are in the business of clearing amendments. We hope to have several cleared before we begin the NASA debate, which we expect to be extensive. I note the Senator from Wisconsin wants to speak at this time. I am going to need about 10 or 15 minutes to actually do the work of the bill. I understand both of my colleagues wish to speak. I am more than happy to cooperate, but at about 10 of 2, we have to move to cleared amendments.

Ms. MIKULSKI. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, this amendment has been cleared on both sides of the aisle, and as an act of respect for our colleague, I ask for its immediate adoption.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3213, as modified, by Senator Domenici of New Mexico and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, I ask that the pending Inouye amendment be set aside.

Ms. MIKULSKI. If the Senator could contain his remarks, it would be useful to us.

Ms. MIKULSKI. How much longer does the Senator intend to talk? We know the Senator from Wisconsin needs to talk, and we need to clear some of our amendments and get ready for a NASA amendment. Of course we want the Senator to finish his third pillar.

Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, will the Senator yield for a moment?

Ms. MIKULSKI. I suggest the absence of a quorum.