Harry Reid

Mr. REID

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

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

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I now move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I send a cloture motion to the desk.

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

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I now move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. There is a cloture motion at the desk that I ask be reported.

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

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I now move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the Senate 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, today we celebrate Juneteenth. For those who aren't familiar with this holiday, today marks the 149th anniversary of the emancipation of the slaves in Galveston, TX. Two- and-a-half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation took effect and 2 months after General Lee's surrender at Appomattox, the slaves of Galveston were still being treated as they were years before. Union GEN Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in Galveston with one thing in mind, to right this wrong. General Granger addressed the entire city, declaring all slaves in Texas to be free, and granting them ``an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property.'' Upon receiving the news, the newly freed slaves could not contain their joy. They were crying, they were hugging, they were celebrating, because they were previously confined to shackles. They were slaves in the true sense of the word. So today, 149 years later, we once again celebrate the occasion of the emancipation so long overdue. Juneteenth is a reminder of promises kept. Although it may be late in coming, it is the duty of a responsible government to honor its word and never forget any of its citizens. There are millions of Americans who need help today, right now. They are escaping the bonds of hunger, unemployment, and inequality. So may we here in the Senate come to their rescue, just as General Granger did for the slaves of Galveston those many years ago.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I now move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 836.

Mr. REID. I send a cloture motion to the desk.

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

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by me after consultation with Senator McConnell, the HELP Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 803 and the Senate proceed to its consideration; that a Murray-Isakson-Harkin-Alexander substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be considered; that the only other amendments in order be the following amendments to the substitute: Flake, making the appointment and certification of a new local board permissible instead of required; Lee, evaluation report requirement; and managers' technical amendment--that is three amendments; that there be 10 minutes of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees on each amendment; that upon the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the amendments in the order listed; that no second-degree amendments be in order prior to the votes; that upon disposition, the managers' technical amendment, the substitute amendment, as amended, if amended, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time; that there be 10 minutes of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended; that if the bill is passed, the Murray-Isakson-Harkin-Alexander amendment to the title, which is at the desk, be agreed to; and the motions to consider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 432, S. 1603.

Mr. REID. I further ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the 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 understand that S. 2491 is at the desk and due for a second reading.

Mr. REID. I object to any further proceedings with respect to this bill.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the commerce committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4412 and the Senate agree to the request of the House for the return of the papers with respect to H.R. 4412.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that during the adjournment or recess of the Senate from Thursday, June 19, through Monday, June 23, the majority leader and Senators Rockefeller and Feinstein be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that on Monday, June 23, 2014, at 5:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session and vote on cloture on Executive Calendar Nos. 779, 780, 781, and 836; further, that if cloture is invoked on any of these nominations, on the next day, Tuesday, June 24, 2014, at 11 a.m., all postcloture time be expired, and the Senate proceed to vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order upon which cloture was invoked; further, that following Senate action on these nominations on Tuesday, the Senate proceed to vote on cloture on Calendar No. 742; further, that there be 2 minutes for debate prior to each vote and all rollcall votes after the first vote in each sequence be 10 minutes in length; further, with respect to the nominations in this agreement, that if any nomination is confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, there will be four rollcall votes on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

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 previous order.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2:00 p.m. on Monday, June 23, 2014; that following the prayer and the 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 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 to 10 minutes each; that following morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session under the previous order.