Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 564, 570, 566, and 567--these are district court judges for the District of Connecticut, the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Northern District of California, and the Northern District of California--that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations; that any related statements be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I appreciate my friend's understanding of what has happened, and we will have further conversations about this.

Is the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 301, S. 1982, now pending?

I have a cloture motion which has been filed at the desk.

I ask unanimous consent the mandatory quorum required under rule XXII be waived and that the cloture vote on the motion to proceed occur following the disposition of the Freeman nomination and the resumption of legislative session.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

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

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

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

I have a cloture motion which has been filed at the desk.

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

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

I have a cloture motion which has been filed at the desk.

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

Mr. President, I now move to proceed to executive session.

I have a cloture motion which has been filed at the desk.

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

I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 12, 2014 at 10 a.m., in room SD-406 of the Dirksen Senate office building, to conduct a hearing entitled, ``MAP-21 Reauthorization: The Economic Importance of Maintaining Federal Investments in our Transportation Infrastructure.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 12, 2014 at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Fisheries Treaties and Port State Measures Agreements.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 12, 2014, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Extreme Weather Events: The Costs of Not Being Prepared.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the sessionof the Senate on February 12, 2014, in room SD-628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Indian Law and Order Commission Report: ``A Roadmap for Making Native America Safer.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on February 12, 2014, at 10 a.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Report of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board on Reforms to the Section 215 Telephone Records Program and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules and Administration be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 12, 2014, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Bipartisan Support for Improving U.S. Elections: An Overview from the Presidential Commission on Election Administration.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 12, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. in room 428A Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Energy of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 12, 2014, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet for a joint hearing during the session of the Senate on February 12, 2014, to conduct a hearing entitled ``In Search of a Second Act: The Challenges and Advantages of Senior Entrepreneurship,'' in room SD-562 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building beginning at 10 a.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Maj. Leslie L. Semrau, a U.S. Air Force officer, who is currently serving as my defense legislative fellow this year, be granted floor privileges for the duration of S. 1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Pay Restoration Act of 2014.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 597, 598, 601, 602, 603, with the exception of COL Mark A. Baird and COL Robert W. Stanley II; and Nos. 604, 605, with the exception of COL Andrew E. Salas; No. 606, with the exception of BG Jon K. Kelk; and Nos. 607, 608, 609, 610, and 611, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Air Force and Army; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations; that any related statements be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by me, with the concurrence of Senator McConnell, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 561; that there be 20 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back of that time the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nomination; that 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; that any related statements be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.