Harry Reid

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of Calendar No. 51.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the time until 11 a.m. be equally divided and controlled.

Mr. REID. At 11 there will be a cloture vote on the nomination of Richard Cordray to be Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. If cloture is invoked, there will be up to 8 hours of debate on the nomination.

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the time be equally divided.

Mr. REID. Absolutely.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, we may have a way forward on this. I feel very confident, as you know. That is why we need the time. So what we are going to do is go into a quorum. I think everyone would be well advised, if they wish, to talk about substantive matters, if you wish to speak to Senator Markey. But we have a few i's to dot and t's to cross, I have to speak to the Vice President, and we are going to have a phone call to make with Senators Schumer and Murray. So everything is going well. I will say I hope everyone learned a lesson last night, that it sure helps to sit down, stand, whatever it is, and talk to each other. It was a very good meeting that lasted 4 hours. People were still as highly engaged at the end of that 4 hours as they were in the beginning. I think we see a way forward that will be good for everybody. There are a lot of accolades to go around to a lot of people. I certainly appreciate my wonderful caucus. One of my Senators, who has a lot of humility, told me this morning: It doesn't matter what you ask me to do, I will do it. I would hope this is not a time to flex muscles, but it is a time I am going to tell one person and no one else how much I appreciate their advocacy, their persuasiveness, persistence, and--a word that truly describes this man is hard to find. I was told by another Senator: You know what this man did? I said: You know who he reminds me of? Bob Kerrey. I hope that doesn't disparage John McCain. But John McCain is the reason we are at the point we are. A lot of people have been extremely helpful. This is all directed toward John McCain from me. No one was able to break through but for him. He does it at his own peril. Everyone, we are going to have a caucus today. We will explain in more detail the direction we are headed. I think everyone will be happy. Everyone will not think we got everything we wanted, but I think it is going to be something that is good for the Senate. It is a compromise. I think we get what we want; they get what they want--not a bad deal. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. REID. I hope we don't have to use all of the 8 hours, but we will see.

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings and that the time during the recess count postcloture on the Cordray nomination. I express my appreciation for the strong vote this good man received.

Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. REID. What I should have done and will do now is ask unanimous consent that the time during this quorum call be divided equally on both sides.

Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, did my friend from Idaho suggest the absence of a quorum?

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I will talk for a minute about the National Labor Relations Board nominees. The NLRB has helped to protect the rights and safety of workers for about 80 years. It is a vitally important watchdog for working Americans. It is also important for employers. It also protects employers. But unless we act before the Senate recess in August, the NLRB will lose its ability to operate. It will fail to have a quorum so it can't work or be effective. So the confirmation of full membership at the NLRB is a priority. I understand Republican Senators were frustrated by President Obama's recess appointment of two members to the NLRB. I accept that. No one has raised any questions, however, about these two good people--Griffin and Block. They are fine public servants and the record should be spread with that fact. Republicans have insisted on the President's nominating new people, and he has done that. It is a right they have, and this is a compromise that was reached. Republican Senators have also committed that the Senate will confirm these new nominees quickly, certainly before the end of this month--the month of July. To that end, I met earlier with Senators Harkin and Lamar Alexander, the chairman and ranking member of that big HELP Committee, and they have given me their word they are going to file a notice tonight that the committee will hold a hearing on these nominees on Tuesday, they will then have a markup on Wednesday, and we intend to turn to these nominees next Thursday. I have talked with the people at the White House, and I am confident these nominees will be staunch advocates for the NLRB--for the rights and safety of workers, and for employers that are also protected with this legislation. So when the Senate confirms them, the NLRB will once again have a full team to protect the rights of workers--the workers in West Virginia, workers in Nevada, and all over the country--the same thing they have done for 80 years. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the cloture motions with respect to Calendar Nos. 100, 101, and 104 be withdrawn; that the vote on the confirmation of the Cordray nomination occur at 5 p.m. today; that if the nomination is confirmed, 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 President Obama be immediately notified of the Senate's action; finally, that the vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Hochberg nomination occur at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, July 17.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate resume legislative session and proceed to a period of morning business with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 16, 2013, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. REID. 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 July 16, 2013, at 10 a.m.

Mr. REID. 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 July 16, 2013, at 10 a.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 16, 2013, at 10 a.m., to hold a hearing entitled, ``A Hearing on S. 980, The Embassy Security and Personnel Protection Act of 2013.''

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate, in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``Pooled Retirement Plans: Closing the Retirement Plan Coverage Gap for Small Businesses'' on July 16, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., in room 430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. REID. 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 July 16, 2013, at 3:30 p.m.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 16, 2013, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs' Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 16, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Implementation of Wartime Contracting Reforms.''

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 16, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.