Patty Murray

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise this morning on a very sad note for all of us who knew a very special, wonderful woman by the name of Governor Ann Richards. Last night she left this world, but she left behind a tremendous spirit that many of us will carry on. She was the kind of woman who could walk into a room and light it up, no matter where she was. She was a Governor of Texas, and I know that State knew and loved her well, but the rest of the country also loved her. I was privileged to know this wonderful, compassionate human being. She made me laugh, she made me think, and she made me remember what I cared most about in this country. Her loss is a tragic one certainly for the State of Texas, certainly for the country, but absolutely for every one of us who knew her. I know many people will be speaking throughout the next several days about the loss of Governor Richards, but I just wanted, on behalf of so many of us who cared for her so much, to express our condolences to all of her family, to her friends, to everyone who knew her, and to let them know that we will not forget and we will continue to carry her message of hope and passion as we continue in our lives. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, if the Senator will withhold for 1 minute until we have a chance to see what those are. I don't have the package in front of me. I thank the Senator.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I move to lay that motion on the table.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 4962, as Modified

Mrs. MURRAY. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that motion on the table. Amendment No. 4958

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on the Menendez amendment.

Mrs. MURRAY. I yield to the Senator from New Jersey however much time he needs.

Mrs. MURRAY. I believe there is 3 minutes left on our side.

Mrs. MURRAY. I yield the remainder of our time to the Senator from New Jersey, Mr. Lautenberg.

Mrs. MURRAY. How much time is left on both sides?

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I yield 6 minutes to the Senator from the New Jersey, Mr. Menendez.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I yield time to the Senator from New Jersey.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, we have no objection to this agreement. I thank the manager for working through this with us.

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

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I believe the Senator from New Jersey just wants to call up his amendment and speak for a few minutes, if I am not incorrect. I say to the Senator from New Jersey, if you could just tell us--I believe it has been shared on both sides. I say to the Senator from Maine, I know your staff has a copy of it. But if the Senator could just explain his intentions.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I totally understand the concerns of the Senator from Maine. I just would like to request--we only have one Senator on our side at this time who wants to bring up an amendment, and there are no Republicans here at this time. He is the only one I am aware of right now who is here in the Chamber ready to go. If it would not be objectionable, if it would be all right that he could just offer his amendment, he just wants to call it up.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, we have cleared this amendment on the Democratic side, and we are happy to move forward with its adoption right now.

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, if I could clarify for the Senate, on our side, what we would like to be able to do over the next half hour, Senator Kerry of Massachusetts would like 2 minutes, the Senator from New York would like 20 minutes, and we are willing to work with you in order to accommodate both those Senators.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I yield 8 minutes to the Senator from Delaware.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I yield 6 minutes to the Senator from Colorado.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, how much time remains on our side?

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from North Dakota.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, what is the pending business?

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