Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 173, S. 2629.

I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 533.

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

Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 576.

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

I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls for the cloture motions filed today, December 7, be waived.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar No. 583, No. 584; that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc without intervening action or debate; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Con. Res. 22, which was submitted earlier today.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to consideration of S. Con. Res. 23, submitted earlier today.

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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking from the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights be printed in the Record.

Finally, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 8; 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 later in the day and the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; that the cloture motions filed during yesterday's session ripen at 11:30 a.m., and if cloture is invoked on the Rollins nomination, all postcloture time expire at 2:15; further, that if cloture is invoked on the Smith nomination, all postcloture time expire at 5:30 p.m.; finally, that if any of the nominations are confirmed during Wednesday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.

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

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

Madam President, yesterday, our country lost a great statesman, and many in this Chamber lost a dear former colleague.

Senator Bob Dole, who represented Kansas in the Senate for 27 years and who served 3 years as Senate majority leader, passed away yesterday morning at the age of 98.

Throughout his life, Bob Dole redefined and elevated what it meant to be a public servant. He was born not to wealth but in poverty, a son of the Kansas heartland, who grew up beneath the shadow of the Great Depression. As a young man, Bob unblinkingly answered the call to serve by enlisting in the Army during World War II, where he earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star.

After his election to the Senate, Senator Dole quickly won the admiration of his colleagues with his candor, his sharp wit, and his penchant for good-natured ribbing, but beneath all that was an unquenchable desire to get things done in this Chamber.

While he frequently sparred with Democrats, some of his greatest achievements were bipartisan endeavors, including his work to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act, legislation to strengthen Social Security, and revamping Federal nutrition programs. Despite rising to the top ranks of his party, Senator Dole always kept close relationships with those on the other side of the aisle.

Senator Dole exemplified the ``greatest generation.'' While I never had the pleasure of serving in the Senate with him, I always admired his steadfast advocacy for veterans, for Americans with disabilities, and his love for his country.

For the information of all, Senator Dole will lie in state this Thursday, under the Capitol Rotunda, where we will pay tribute to his life and to his legacy.

I thank the Speaker and Leader McConnell in helping make this event's ceremonies possible.

For today, I join all my colleagues in mourning the loss of this great public servant, and I wish all of Senator Dole's family my deepest condolences.