Harry Reid

Mr. REID

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 Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, it is always rewarding to see people go on to bigger and better pursuits in their careers, unless, of course, we depend on them. And for almost my entire time as majority leader here in this body, one of the people I have depended on is Meredith Mellody. Isn't that a great name, Meredith Mellody. She has been an important part of the Democratic floor staff for that entire time. For 8 years she has been here in the Senate, working late hours on the floor, sending me, among other things, the wrapup--she did that for a while--what happened during the day. It is tedious, but it is important, and we did it every day. She has been in the cloakroom making sure the wheels of this body continue turning. She comes from a political family. She comes, as I recall, from Scranton. Anyway, I am grateful for her hard work and her dedication over the years. We all depend on her and have depended on her, and we are very thankful for her service. She is leaving the Senate to pursue opportunities in the private sector, and that is important. But the main reason she is leaving--that I don't question, anyway, recognizing this is very important to her, and it is probably one of the most important things she has ever done-- if not the most important--she is going to get married. I have already congratulated her. But it is really sad to see these people who have become a part of our family go. She is going to be successful in her future endeavors in the private sector. I certainly wish you, Meredith, the best in the future. You are a wonderful person. You are kind, thoughtful, and considerate always. You are never rude to anyone. And the pressure that is on each of you to do this yesterday, do it right now, and do it sooner than you are capable of doing it--you have always been polite and never rude to anyone. So I am grateful to you for your service to the Senate and, in doing that, your service to the country. I note the absence of a quorum.

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 Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. REID

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

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 2076, Calendar No. 375.

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Boozman amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 431, S. 1799.

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Coons substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the following resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 490, S. Res. 491, S. Res. 492, and S. Res. 493.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles, where applicable, be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 494, submitted earlier today.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I am told that S. 2562 has been introduced and is at the desk and is due for its first reading.

Mr. REID. I ask for a second reading but object to my own request.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding 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, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two Houses or by order of the Senate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 439, H.R. 2388.

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, 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, and that following each pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until the next pro forma session: Monday, June 30 at 12 noon, and Thursday, July 3, at 1:30 p.m.; and that the Senate adjourn on Thursday, July 3, 2014, until 2 p.m. on Monday, July 7, 2014; that 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 until later in the day; that following any leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business until 5:30 p.m. with Senators permitted to speak therein for up 10 minutes each; and that at 5:30 p.m. the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Executive Calendar No. 738; that all postcloture time be considered expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the Krause nomination; further, 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 to the nomination, that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate resume legislative session; and, finally, that when the Senate resumes legislative session, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 2363 and the Senate vote on the motion to proceed to S. 2363, the Sportsmen's Act.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, there will be two rollcall votes at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 7, 2014.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the provisions of S. Res. 494 as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that during the adjournment or recess of the Senate from Thursday, June 26, to Monday, July 7, Senators Levin and Carper be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 384, S. 2363, the Hagan sportsmen's legislation.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, following my remarks and those of the Republican leader, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until noon, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees. The Republicans will control the first 30 minutes and the majority will control the next 30 minutes. At noon the Senate will proceed to the consideration of H.R. 803, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. At 2:30 p.m. there will be three rollcall votes on amendments and passage of the bill. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Mr. President, this afternoon the Senate will consider and pass the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. While the unemployment rate has steadily declined since the recession and more than 9 million private sector jobs have been created, too many Americans are still unemployed or lack the tools necessary to compete for today's jobs. That is why this legislation, which updates and streamlines our Nation's job training and local workforce development programs, is so vital. This legislation is very complicated, very complex, and it is vital. It proves the mere fact that even though this legislation is complicated, complex, and vital, we can pass it. This act will help improve training and educational opportunities for those Americans looking for a job or to advance their careers. It will also help businesses grow and strengthen local economies across the whole country. In Nevada tens of thousands have benefited from the job training placement and educational programs funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Many found their first job while others were able to reenter the workforce, and still others took advantage of the programs to improve their skills. For all of them it meant a paycheck, and for some of them it meant a raise to support their families. This legislation is also an example of how the Senate can and should function. I repeat, this legislation is not a walk in the park. It is extremely complicated. It shows how Congress can operate when both sides are willing to compromise and work in good faith to craft legislation that will help improve the lives of Americans. It has not been easy. This program was last authorized in 1998. Think of how much the world has changed over the last 16 years. Look at the Internet. It has transformed training and education programs and even the way most Americans look for work. Over the past 16 years there have been several attempts to reauthorize this legislation, and they have all fallen short. After 16 years of attempts, it is even more impressive that Chairman Harkin, Senators Murray, Alexander, and Isakson, along with their counterparts in the House, were able to forge a bicameral, bipartisan agreement. Congratulations to each of these Senators and the House Members who worked with them. They worked in a bipartisan, bicameral way, which resulted in successful legislation. In basketball they say if you are not doing well, you just have a lot of off days and that the best way for a shooter to get his rhythm back is to sink a couple of baskets. I hope this theory proves true in the Senate. It is time we sank a couple of baskets. It is time for us to start working together so we can get things done. Hopefully, by witnessing the success of a good bipartisan bill such as this, the Senate will get its rhythm back. Unanimous Consent Agreement--Executive Calendar

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following the disposition of H.R. 803, which is the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar Nos. 499, 501, and 787; and that the Senate proceed to vote on the confirmation of the nominations in the order listed; further, if any nomination is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that no further motions be in order to the nominations; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record and that President Obama be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, will my friend allow me to ask a question through the Chair?

Mr. REID. I was in my office when I heard the statement by the Republican leader about Keystone. I direct this question to the Senator from South Dakota, who is a fine Senator and understands energy issues. We agreed to have a vote on Keystone. My friend, the Republican leader, keeps misdirecting the matter. We can have a vote on Keystone. That was part of the deal we made. We had a bipartisan bill, Portman- Shaheen. They worked on that bill for months, since last fall. They put in amendments that people wanted. Jeanne Shaheen came here yesterday and said: Let's have a vote on Keystone, but just as long as we can have a vote on energy efficiency. She even suggested we could have a vote using the McConnell rule--a 60- vote threshold--on both of them. This is so transparent that my friend the Republican leader is doing the bidding again of the Koch brothers, who own the first or second largest tar sands holding which exists in the world. I say to my friend from South Dakota: Why can't we just have a vote on both of those--energy efficiency and on Keystone?