Harry Reid

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 597, 598, 601, 602, 603, with the exception of COL Mark A. Baird and COL Robert W. Stanley II; and Nos. 604, 605, with the exception of COL Andrew E. Salas; No. 606, with the exception of BG Jon K. Kelk; and Nos. 607, 608, 609, 610, and 611, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Air Force and Army; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations; that any related statements be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Maj. Leslie L. Semrau, a U.S. Air Force officer, who is currently serving as my defense legislative fellow this year, be granted floor privileges for the duration of S. 1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Pay Restoration Act of 2014.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 248.

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Nelson amendment which is at the desk be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by me, with the concurrence of Senator McConnell, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 561; that there be 20 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back of that time the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nomination; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order; that any related statements be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 350 and the Senate proceed to its consideration.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Booker amendment to the resolution, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the resolution, as amended, be agreed to; the Booker amendment to the preamble, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H. Con. Res. 81 and H. Con. Res. 82 en bloc.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolutions be agreed to en bloc and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to S. Res. 359.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I understand S. 2024 is at the desk and due for its first reading.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask for a second reading of the bill, but for the purpose of placing the bill on the calendar under rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Sanders be appointed as a conferee to H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that during the adjournment or recess of the Senate from Thursday, February 13, through Monday, February 24, the majority leader and Senators Warner and Levin be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that not withstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, boards, conferences or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, concurrent action of the two Houses or by order of the Senate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. When the Senate returns, it will address a number of important nominations, the comprehensive veterans bill, extension of unemployment insurance benefits, sexual assault in the military, and others. On unemployment insurance, I am going to be very clear. This issue is not going to go away. We are one Republican vote away from restoring this lifeline; 1.7 million Americans, including 22,200 Nevadans, depend on this lifeline, and we are not going to let them down.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn and convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business conducted on the following dates and times; that following each pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until the next pro forma session on Friday, February 14, at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 18, at 10:30 a.m., and Friday, February 21, at 10:30 a.m.; and that the Senate adjourn on Friday, February 21, until 2 p.m. on Monday, February 24, 2014; that on Monday, following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; that Senator King of Maine be recognized to deliver Washington's Farewell Address, under the previous order; that upon the conclusion of the reading, the majority leader be recognized and then the Senate be in a period of morning business until 5 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; that at 5 p.m. the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 564, the Meyer nomination, with the time until 5:30 p.m. equally divided and controlled in the usual form prior to the cloture vote on the Meyer nomination.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 358.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. The next rollcall vote will be on Monday, February 24, at 5:30 p.m.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, following my remarks and those of the Republican leader, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act. Senator-designate John Walsh of Montana will become a Senator today at 12:15. The Senate will recess today from 12:30 until 2:15 to allow for our weekly caucus meetings.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, today it is my pleasure to welcome the next Senator from Montana, Lt. Gov. John Walsh. Governor Walsh will be sworn in prior to the weekly caucus meetings. I am really happy with this man coming here. My friend the assistant leader has heard me say this before, but I think it is worth repeating. When I served in the House of Representatives, I served on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Henry Kissinger appeared before the subcommittee chaired by Congressman Solarz from New York. The Congressman said to Henry Kissinger: ``I am really at a loss as to what to call you. Doctor?'' He was a Ph.D. ``Mr. Ambassador?'' He had been an ambassador. ``Mr. Secretary?'' He went through some other titles he previously had. Finally, Kissinger interrupted him and said: ``Your Excellency'' would be just fine. We now have the same problem. John Walsh has been a general. He has been Lieutenant Governor, and it is protocol when one is Lieutenant Governor to be referred to as ``Governor.'' So he has a number of different titles, but soon he will be Senator. I have talked to him on many different occasions. He is a fine man. I am confident he will find his time here among the most rewarding experiences of his distinguished career. And he is distinguished. He spent his entire adult life serving the people of Montana and our Nation. Lieutenant Governor Walsh served in the Montana National Guard for more than three decades. After enlisting as a private, he rose through the ranks to lead the Montana National Guard as Adjutant General. He led 2,000 guardsmen in response to the devastating wildfires in 2000. General Walsh also led 700 soldiers of the Montana National Guard's 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry Regiment in combat in Iraq. And combat it was. It was some of the most difficult fighting that took place in the entire war. It was the largest mobilization of guardsmen in Montana since World War II. The battalion was awarded the Valorous Unit Citation, and General Walsh received a Bronze Star for his exemplary service. In 2008 Lieutenant Governor Walsh was appointed Adjutant General for the Montana National Guard. He led the State's guardsmen until 2012, when he retired to continue his public service in a new capacity as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Montana. Both as Adjutant General and as Lieutenant Governor, he has fought for access to education for veterans and for every Montana child. The Walsh family places great value on the power of education. Lieutenant Governor Walsh was the first member of his family to graduate from college. His wife of 29 years, Janet, has taught in the public schools in Montana for many years. In fact, John and Janet met while they were both attending Carroll College in Helena, MT. They have two children and one grandchild, all of whom they are very proud. John Walsh received his master's degree at the U.S. Army War College in 2007. John Walsh possesses a true independent Western spirit and a commendable dedication to the people of Montana. I have no doubt he will continue to serve his State and the Nation with distinction as a U.S. Senator.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I was surprised this morning to hear Republicans literally howling over President Obama's decision to ease the transition for medium-sized businesses to providing health insurance for all of their employees. Republicans have complained that health care reform is a burden to employers, but now they are complaining that President Obama is trying to ease that burden and smooth the transition to a new system. Think about that one. But this Republican duplicity should come as no surprise. After all, Republicans are the ones who invented the individual mandate. It was their idea. It is a conservative idea that every American has a responsibility to seek insurance to cover their health care needs, and the government has a responsibility to make that coverage accessible and affordable. But now Republicans are attacking their own brain child--the individual mandate. The individual mandate was their idea, and Republicans are willfully ignoring the fact that the Affordable Care Act creates a transition period for individuals to obtain insurance as well. It is time for Republicans to stop talking out of both sides of their mouths. If they have legitimate concerns about the Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare, and not just political gripes, they should work with the President and the Democrats in Congress to fix and improve the law; otherwise, they should stop complaining and get out of the way.