Harry Reid

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, this resolution concerns a request for testimony, documents, and representation in a Federal criminal action pending in Florida Federal District Court. The defendant is charged with sending through the mail to the Jacksonville, FL, offices of Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio an envelope containing a white powdery substance and a letter containing alleged threats directed towards the Senators. The prosecution has requested from both Senators' offices the production of the letters at issue and testimony from current and former office employees who witnessed the relevant events. Senators Nelson and Rubio would like to cooperate with these requests. The enclosed resolution would authorize the production of the letters at issue and testimony by current and former employees of the offices of Senators Nelson and Rubio. It would also authorize the Senate legal counsel to represent any current or former employees of those offices from whom evidence may be sought in this case.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, this great body, the Senate, has a unique ability to work very quickly when cooperation is present. That is one of the many special things about this institution. Unfortunately, cooperation in the recent months has been very lacking. Case in point: One Senator has delayed action for more than a month on a bill to ensure the safety of custom medications mixed by pharmacies for patients with unique health needs. The reason that 97 Senators voted to move this legislation is because 64 people died and 800 people were made very, very sick, with some of them very sick. They had strokes and other medical issues because of the irresponsibility and negligence of this company in Massachusetts. A lawsuit was filed recently in Nevada where two young boys were allegedly impacted significantly as a result of this medication. It was really bad medication. Unless the entire U.S. Senate bends to that one Senator's wish, the one who voted no--and the vote was 97 to 1--he will force this body to jump through hoops and work through the next several days wasting time to finish the crucial drug safety bill, but we are going to finish that bill. This bill is important for our country, and I cannot let one Senator dictate what goes on in the Senate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, following leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 2 hours, with Republicans controlling the first half and the majority controlling the final half. Following morning business, we will vote on adoption of the motion to proceed to H.R. 3204, the pharmaceutical drug compounding bill. This is expected to be a voice vote--at least I hope that is, in fact, the case. If that is the case, then we will decide what will happen subsequent to that. The Senate will recess from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. to allow for an important meeting we are having. I understand that both the majority and minority are holding important meetings today. There is no agreement that I am aware of to complete action on the compounding bill today, but hopefully we can do that.

Mr. REID

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

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, what is the matter before the body?

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on that amendment.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have a second-degree amendment at the desk.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have a motion to commit H.R. 3204 with instructions, which is at the desk.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on that motion.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have an amendment to the instructions, which is at the desk.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on the amendment.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have a second-degree amendment at the desk.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. If I understand, H.R. 3204 is now the pending matter.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have a cloture motion with respect to the bill, which is at the desk.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I move to proceed to calendar No. 91, S. 1197.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have a cloture motion at the desk.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to a period of morning business until 5 p.m. today with Senators permitted during that time to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. REID

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

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 381.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I sent a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived.