Jeff Merkley

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. No. I am going to return to morning business, so I will defer.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I simply thank the Senator from Maryland and look forward to working with her. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.

Mr. MERKLEY. That is correct.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 1541, which was received from the House.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. I ask unanimous consent that the joint resolution be read three times, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Rules Committee be discharged from further consideration of S.J. Res. 9 and that the Senate then proceed to its consideration.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that on Wednesday, March 18, following the period of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 24, the nomination of Ronald Kirk to be U.S. Trade Representative; that there be up to 90 minutes of debate with respect to the nomination, with the time divided as follows: 30 minutes under the control of the majority and 60 minutes under the control of the Republicans; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the vote on confirmation of the nomination occur at a time to be determined by the majority leader, following consultation with the Republican leader, and that upon confirmation, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, no further motions be in order, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Rules Committee be discharged from further consideration of H. Con. Res. 39 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. MERKLEY. I ask unanimous consent the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18; 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 for up to 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the Republicans controlling the first half and the majority controlling the final half; further, that following morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session under the previous order; further that following executive session, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 146, the lands bill.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, Senators should expect a series of votes around 2 p.m. on the confirmation of the Kirk nomination and three Coburn amendments.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. 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. I ask unanimous consent that the joint resolution be read three times, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Rules Committee be discharged from further consideration of S.J. Res. 8 and the Senate then proceed to its consideration.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements related thereto be printed in the Record.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 30, S. 303.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Udall of Colorado. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, there will be no rollcall votes on Friday. The next votes are expected to begin after 5 p.m. Monday.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 57 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. Friday, March 6; 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 the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus appropriations bill.

Mr. MERKLEY

Mr. MERKLEY. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 67, submitted earlier today.