Lisa Murkowski

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I move to table the amendment and ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, for the same reasons that I just expressed in the previous amendment that was before us, I would suggest that we move to table this amendment. I will make that motion now to table the Sanders amendment, and I would ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. I object.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, it is my understanding that a motion to table is not debatable.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, we had a robust discussion yesterday on two amendments that dealt with the issue of climate change. I think we had a very clear and resounding vote on the one that had a perfectly reasonable statement that climate change is real; climate change is not a hoax. I also supported the amendment of my colleague from North Dakota on this same topic. I think it was important that we had that debate. What I am hoping we can do now is get beyond the discussion as to whether climate change is real and talk about: What do we do? How do we move forward to those technologies? How do we make a difference with reasonable steps such as greater efficiency, a no-regrets energy policy that makes our energy supply even cleaner. I want to move on to that. But I think at this point in time, with what we have had in front of us, we could have a whole series of amendments that basically restate the same thing. I would like to move us beyond that conversation, and I look forward to that. But at this time I move to table, and ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. I move to reconsider the vote.

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

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to call up my amendment No. 123.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 3:50 p.m. today, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the following amendments in the order listed: Boxer No. 113, which is a side-by-side to Senator Fischer's amendment; then Fischer No. 18, as modified; Manchin No. 99; Sanders No. 24; Lee No. 71; Murkowski No. 123, which is a side-by-side to Senator Wyden's amendment; Wyden No. 27; Blunt No. 78, as modified; Cornyn No. 126, as modified; and Menendez No. 72, as modified; further, that all amendments on this list be subject to a 60- vote affirmative threshold for adoption except for Cornyn No. 126 and Menendez No. 72, which are germane, and that no second-degrees be in order to the amendments. I ask consent that there be 2 minutes of debate equally divided between each vote, and that all votes after the first in the series be 10-minute votes.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, we have a number of Members who have asked to come to the floor to speak over the course of these next couple of hours. Many will be speaking to their specific amendment on the Keystone XL Pipeline. Again, we encourage folks to use this time, while we have a little bit of time before we move to the votes this afternoon. I see that my colleague from North Carolina is here to speak. I would welcome his remarks at this time.

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

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

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

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, at this time I know Senators are interested in coming to the floor and offering their amendments. We have been discussing a process forward on this side of the aisle. Earlier in the day Senator Fischer had been working on an amendment that she has agreed to modify. I understand that the other side has a side-by-side that they will ask for consideration on. I know the Senator from Louisiana will be on the floor to speak on an amendment he would like considered, and I understand there are a couple of other Senators on the other side who wish to speak as well. There will be no more votes today on these amendments, but again, given the interest in this subject, I encourage Members to come down and speak to their amendments. We would like to figure out that process to get a series of amendments pending.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I don't know how much time the Senator from North Dakota is seeking this morning. Maybe that would help the Senator from Vermont in understanding the schedule.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I understand the Senator from Vermont is just going to speak to an amendment he has filed. He is not seeking to call up the amendment; is that correct?

Ms. MURKOWSKI. No objection, Mr. President.

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

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I urge colleagues to oppose the Schatz amendment. There is a distinct difference between this amendment and what was previously considered in the sense of the Congress, which would refer to human activity that significantly contributes to climate change, and the issue of degrees. And I would suggest to colleagues that the inclusion of that word is sufficient to merit a ``no'' vote at this time. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. I ask for the yeas and nays, Mr. President.