Harry Reid

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I move to reconsider the vote and to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, for the benefit of Members, we have had a number of amendments filed, and I would like to move forward on trying to move this legislation along. That is what this is all about. So, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be in order and be called up in the order I offer them here: Thune No. 1197, Landrieu No. 1222, Vitter No. 1228, Tester No. 1198, and Heller No. 1227; that the time until 11:30 a.m. be equally divided between the two managers or their designees for debate on these amendments; that at that time; that is, 11:30 a.m., the Senate proceed to vote on the amendments in this agreement in the order listed; that there be no second-degree amendments in order prior to the votes; that all the amendments be subject to a 60-affirmative vote threshold; that there be 2 minutes equally divided between the votes, and all after the first vote be 10 minutes in duration.

Mr. REID. So you object to the whole thing?

Mr. REID. I thought we had a deal there.

Mr. REID. I therefore ask, because of the objection, unanimous consent that the following amendments be in order to be called up: Thune No. 1197, Landrieu No. 1222, Vitter No. 1228, Tester No. 1198, and Heller No. 1227.

Mr. REID. I am disappointed my colleague's amendment is not going to be part of this, but maybe we can work on that at a subsequent time.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, while we are determining the best way to move forward on these amendments that are now in order, I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from New Mexico Mr. Heinrich be allowed to speak for up to 15 minutes to give his maiden speech before the Senate, and during that 15-minute period of time we will try to figure out a way to proceed. That is the request.

Mr. REID. I also ask unanimous consent that following the Senator's statement I be recognized.

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

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am going to ask consent that we have a vote on some judges in an hour. But prior to saying that, I want to say this. This is a very important bill. People want to offer amendments on this bill. We have five amendments that are now pending. There are ways we could move forward expeditiously, but sometimes that is not the right thing to do. We have a number of issues I want to focus on for just a minute. No. 1, we have a storm coming--we all know about that--in a couple of different waves. We have meetings going on today in the Capitol with different groups of people trying to figure out a way to go forward on this important legislation. I think what we should do is have these judges votes, have people go ahead and do their meetings--for example, there is one at the White House late this afternoon with some Senators. But I do say this: We are going to finish the work on the floor soon on this bill, but we are going to come back Monday and we are going to be on this bill. I want to alert everybody that next weekend we will be working on this bill. We are going to finish this bill before the July 4 recess. Everyone should understand that. Everyone has had adequate warning, notice, that we are going to work next weekend. That means Friday, Monday, and that includes Saturday and Sunday to get this legislation done. If something comes up and we do not have to do that, good, but as things now stand, I see that is something we have to do. I want to make sure people know. They know because we have to move forward on this legislation. We have a lot we have to finish during the July time period. We will be on this legislation. I have had a couple of Senators say: Can we be next? Mr. President, everyone is alerted. We are working. Both sides are working in good faith to get this bill done, and we are going to continue to do that. Hopefully we will not have to terminate all these amendments with procedural votes. If we have to do that, we will, but I would rather not do that. I hope everyone will continue working to come to an agreement on how we can improve this bill. I kind of like it the way it is, but I am not the one who is going to make this determination. The ranking member is here, and he will have plenty of time for speeches this afternoon on this legislation. I also appreciate everyone being reasonable. My friend the Senator from South Dakota is always very easy and pleasant to work with. I talked to him about how we should move forward on his amendment, and we had a good conversation. Hopefully what I have said will pacify everyone for the time being and hopefully for a long period of time so we can get this done. Unanimous Consent Agreement--Executive Nominations I ask unanimous consent that at 11:30 today the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar Nos. 47 and 49 under the previous order. Therefore, under the order, the Senate would have one or two votes beginning at noon, beginning on the confirmation of Nitza Alejandro and Jeffrey L. Schmehl to be U.S. district judges for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Both of these judges are from Pennsylvania.

Mr. REID. So people can plan, we hope the first one will be by voice. This one vote after noon will be the last vote of the week.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, a number of people have said they did not know what was going on with the intelligence situation that has developed in the country. The programs have been around for 7 years. We have had a number of briefings, both classified and unclassified. We are having another one at 2:30. General Alexander will be there. He has some new stuff he wants to lay out for us. Everyone should go. If you do not go, you have no excuse for saying you do not know what is going on. This meeting has been scheduled all week. Having said that, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. I do not want anyone to have an excuse for why they are not going there.

Mr. REID

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

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that Senators proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators being permitted to speak for 10 minutes each.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 154.

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Hoeven substitute amendment be agreed to; the resolution, as amended, be agreed to; the Hoeven amendment to the preamble be agreed to; the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; the title amendment be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that on Monday, June 17, 2013, at 5 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 48 and 62; that there be 30 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back of time the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed; 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; 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 the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I apologize to everyone for having to wait. We were trying to get some things cleared, and it didn't work.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to S. Res. 171, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, the next rollcall vote will be at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.

Mr. REID

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

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m. on Monday, June 17; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; and that following any leader remarks, 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 following morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session under the previous order; finally, that when the Senate resumes legislative session following the vote on the Gonzales nomination, the Senate resume consideration of S. 744, the immigration bill.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, following leader remarks the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour. The majority will control the first half and the Republicans the final half. Following morning business the Senate will resume consideration of S. 744, which is the immigration bill. Today we will work through amendments on the bill. Senators will be notified when votes are scheduled.