Jeff Merkley

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar Nos. 197 and 258; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc; that no further motions be in order and any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record; the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I understand that H.R. 2454 has been received from the House and is at the desk.

Mr. MERKLEY. I ask for its first reading.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask for its second reading and object to my own request.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate adjourn under the previous order.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes it business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow, July 7; that following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and there be a period of morning business for 1 hour, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; that following morning business, as previously ordered, the Senate proceed to H.R. 2892, the Homeland Security appropriations bill; finally, I ask that the Senate recess from 12:30 until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, tomorrow, we will begin consideration of the Homeland Security appropriations bill. Rollcall votes are expected to occur throughout the day. As stated earlier today, at approximately 12:15 tomorrow, Senator-elect Al Franken will be sworn in to be U.S. Senator from the State of Minnesota.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, tomorrow we will work on an agreement to consider the Legislative Branch appropriations bill. If we are able to reach an agreement, we could have votes in relation to the bill. Earlier today, the majority leader filed cloture on the nomination of Harold Koh to be legal adviser of the State Department. If we are unable to reach an agreement to consider the nomination, that cloture vote would occur Wednesday morning.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and there be a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the majority controlling the next 30 minutes; further, that the Senate recess from 12:30 until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 16, 2009, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Greener Communities, Greater Opportunities: New Ideas for Sustainable Development and Economic Growth.''

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, from 10:15-11 a.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Office Building.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at 10 a.m. in room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Climate Change Legislation: Tax Considerations.''

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at 2:15 p.m.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Airland of the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Cell Phone Text Messaging Rate Increases and the State of Competition in the Wireless Market.''

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Protecting Our Employees: Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and the Federal Workforce.''

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that any recess time or morning business time count postcloture.

Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.