Patty Murray

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, we are moving rapidly to a finish. We have one final amendment that needs to be voted on. Then we will have a manager's package and final passage shortly. I yield to the Senator from Delaware. Amendment No. 739

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, this amendment has been agreed to on both sides. I believe we can do it on a voice vote. Mr. President, I yield back all time.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, the next amendment in order is the Sanders amendment, No. 737. This amendment has also been agreed to on both sides. If the Senator from Vermont wishes to, he may speak.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, the next amendment in order is the Coburn amendment, No. 649. We are ready to take this on a voice vote. If there is no one who wants to speak on the other side, we can move to the amendment. Mr. President, I yield back all time.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I tell my colleagues on this side of the aisle, there is no money in the Senate bill for spinach. We do know there are issues out there affecting our agricultural communities across the Nation. The bill that is before us addresses many of those critical issues. This is a supplemental emergency bill, and when there are emergencies, we are responsible for taking care of them. But the amendment of the Senator from South Carolina will make no difference in this bill.

Mrs. MURRAY. How much time do I have remaining?

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, the amendment by the Senator from South Carolina is a solution looking for a problem. I sit on the Appropriations Committee. I was there throughout the entire committee markup. There was never any money for spinach in the Senate version of this bill. There is not now any money for spinach in the Senate version of this bill, so adoption of this amendment will not change the substance of this bill one iota. But if the Senator insists, we will go ahead and move forward on his amendment. We are happy to take it by a voice vote if the Senator would consider that.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, we are moving quickly to finish this bill. It will take the cooperation of all Senators. I ask everyone to make sure you are in the Senate Chamber because rollcall votes will be 10 minutes from here on. We now turn to the Senator from South Carolina.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I understand the Senator wants a rollcall vote on this amendment. We will move to that vote. We support the amendment on this side and yield back our time. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, the Ensign amendment, as modified, is an amendment that is acceptable to this side. I ask my colleague from Nevada if he is willing to take a voice vote.

Mrs. MURRAY. I see the Senator from Nevada is on the floor, so I yield the floor. amendment no. 752, as modified

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I understand under the order that there will be 4 minutes equally divided before each amendment. The first amendment we are considering is the Ensign amendment; is that correct?

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 9 a.m., Thursday, March 29; that on Thursday, following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; that the Senate then resume consideration of H.R. 1591, as provided for under a previous order.

Mrs. MURRAY

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

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Executive Calendar No. 43, the nomination of Vanessa Lynne Bryant, to be a U.S. district judge for the District of Connecticut; that the nomination be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, the President be notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session; that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 133, which was submitted earlier today.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Agriculture Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 114 and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces be authorized to meet in open and closed sessions during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, March 28, 2007, at 9:30 a.m., to receive testimony on strategic forces programs in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2008 and the future years defense program.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Personnel be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, March 28, 2007, at 3:30 p.m., to receive testimony on active component, reserve component, and civilian personnel programs in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2008 and the future years defense program.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet Wednesday, March 28, 2007, from 10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Dirksen 562 for the purpose of conducting a hearing.