A concurrent resolution providing for a conditional adjournment or recess of the Senate and an adjournment of the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, arguably, Mr. Speaker, this Congress is the least productive one in which I have served over the last 33 years. Both from a humanitarian standpoint and an economic one, this Congress has earned the disdain of the American people irrespective of their party affiliation.

I rise, Mr. Speaker, specifically to express my and the Democratic minority's strong objection to adjourning this first session of the 113th Congress without extending unemployment insurance eligibility for the 1.3 million Americans, including 20,000 military veterans, who will lose that support in just 48 hours. This number will increase by 73,000 people, on average, every week that we continue to block an extension.

That is both a moral outrage and another congressionally inflicted blow to our economy, and it is unprecedented. Whenever unemployment levels have been as they are today, the Congress has extended benefits.

It is, sadly, consistent with our failure to pass meaningful jobs legislation proposed by the President.

It is, sadly, consistent with our failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform, which is broadly supported by business, labor, farmers, farm workers, and an overwhelming number of religious leaders and members of the faith community.

It is, sadly, consistent with our failure to pass a farm bill, which could give confidence to those in dire need of help putting food on their families' tables that this Congress will not abandon them; and ironically, Mr. Speaker, we do so at the very time that our Nation celebrates a message of giving and hope.

All this we leave undone after passing a so-called budget ``compromise,'' whose only virtue was that it was slightly better than the draconian and the irrational sequester--condemned on both sides of the aisle as unworkable, unrealistic, and ill-conceived. So, it is a so-called ``compromise'' that will be tested in just a few short weeks and which failed to assure that America will pay its bills in the months ahead.

Mr. Speaker, if I thought objecting to this motion to adjourn by unanimous consent would lead to an extension of unemployment for the 1.3 million Americans who have been unable to find work or to a House leadership bringing to the floor issues that I have listed, I would object to this House adjourning with so much of the people's work undone, but sadly, Mr. Speaker, such an objection would have no such effect. I and my party deeply regret that reality.

Mr. Speaker, we will return in January of 2014, urging our Republican colleagues to address the needs of so many millions of Americans who want us to do the work they sent us here to do.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, sadly, I withdraw my reservation.

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, unless the Senate receives a message from the House that it has adopted S. Con. Res. 30, the adjournment resolution: Tuesday, December 24, at 12 noon; Friday, December 27, at 12 noon; Tuesday, December 31, at 12 noon; and Friday, January 3, at 11:45 a.m.; and that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, January 3, 2014, it stand adjourned until 2 p.m., on Monday, January 6, 2014; further, that if the Senate receives a message that the House has adopted S. Con. Res. 30, the Senate adjourn until Friday, January 3, at 11:45 a.m. for a pro forma session only with no business conducted, and that following the pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until 2 p.m., on Monday, January 6, 2014; that on Monday, January 6, 2014, 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 later in the day; and that following any leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 1845, the unemployment insurance extension, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each; further, that at 3 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of Executive Calendar No. 452, the nomination of Janet Yellen to be Chairman of the Federal Reserve System, with the time until 5:30 p.m. equally divided and controlled in the usual form prior to a vote on confirmation of the Yellen nomination; and, finally, that following the vote on confirmation of the Yellen nomination, the Senate resume legislative session and proceed to vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1845, the unemployment insurance extension bill.

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to S. Con. Res. 30, which was submitted earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent the consent the resolution be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.