Floor Statements

Finally, Mr. President, quickly, on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, last month, the House passed a bill to prohibit the sale of oil from the Nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China. I have seen the proposal, but here is my question: Why stop at China? What about Russia, North Korea, Iran?

If we are going to do this, why not do it right and see if we can add a few more countries to the list? It is certainly worth taking a look at.

So that is what we are doing. We are going to take a look at this proposal and, hopefully, find ways to make it stronger.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 3.

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

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

Madam President, I have two requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.

Con. Res. 11, which was received from the House and is at the desk.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions, which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 27, S. Res. 28, and S. Res. 29.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of S. Res. 30 and S. Res. 31, submitted earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to en bloc and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc with no intervening action or debate.

Just for the notice of the Members of the Senate and the country, we have now constituted the membership of the committees, and they will be able to proceed to meet as in regular order.

Now, Madam President, I understand there is a bill at the desk and I ask for its first reading.

I now ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar, under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Presiding Officer of the Senate be authorized to appoint a committee on the part of the Senate to join with a like committee on the part of the House of Representatives to escort the President of the United States into the House Chamber for the joint session to be held at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 11 a.m. on Friday, February 3, for a pro forma session only with no business conducted; that following the pro forma session, the Senate stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7; further, 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 morning business be closed; and that following the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Benjamin nomination; finally, that the cloture motion filed during today's session ripen at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7.

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

Mr. President, first, there is a little housekeeping, and then I will give my remarks.

Mr. President, I understand that there is a bill at the desk that is due for a second reading.

In order to place the bill on the calendar, under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to further proceeding.