Floor Statements

Mr. President, in addition to the swearing-in of Lieutenant Governor Walsh, I expect that this afternoon the Senate will adopt the motion to proceed to legislation to restore the earned pensions of military retirees. This measure restores cost-of-living adjustments for military retirees. Although no veterans will be affected until the end of next year, there is no reason to delay a solution. I will continue to work with my Republican colleagues to process what we need to do to pass this important measure. We know the Ayotte amendment is one Republicans have indicated they want a vote on, and I see no reason why we shouldn't allow them to have a vote on it.

Mr. President, I was surprised this morning to hear Republicans literally howling over President Obama's decision to ease the transition for medium-sized businesses to providing health insurance for all of their employees. Republicans have complained that health care reform is a burden to employers, but now they are complaining that President Obama is trying to ease that burden and smooth the transition to a new system. Think about that one.

But this Republican duplicity should come as no surprise. After all, Republicans are the ones who invented the individual mandate. It was their idea. It is a conservative idea that every American has a responsibility to seek insurance to cover their health care needs, and the government has a responsibility to make that coverage accessible and affordable. But now Republicans are attacking their own brain child--the individual mandate. The individual mandate was their idea, and Republicans are willfully ignoring the fact that the Affordable Care Act creates a transition period for individuals to obtain insurance as well.

It is time for Republicans to stop talking out of both sides of their mouths. If they have legitimate concerns about the Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare, and not just political gripes, they should work with the President and the Democrats in Congress to fix and improve the law; otherwise, they should stop complaining and get out of the way.

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 4:30 p.m., the

Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 516, 517, 518, and 593; that there be 30 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back of the time the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed; that 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; 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; further, that there be 2 minutes for debate, equally divided in the usual form prior to each vote, and that all rollcall votes after the first be 10 minutes in duration.

I appreciate the Senator yielding.

Madam President, we are going to have one more recorded vote. We think we will have another vote that will not be recorded, but it will be a voice vote and that will be the last vote tonight.

I am totally aware of the weather prediction, that we might get some snow tomorrow night. We will see what happens midday tomorrow and find out how much snow the weather forecasters are predicting, if any.

Tomorrow around 11:30 a.m. we are going to have a series of votes. The floor staff will be working on what the votes will be, and I will be discussing that with Senator McConnell.

We have one more vote tonight and we have a series of votes tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.

I yield back all time.

Madam President, I yield back all time.

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

I ask unanimous consent that at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 2014, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 525, 595, 527, and 529; that there be 30 minutes for debate divided in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed; that 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; 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; further, that there be 2 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form prior to each vote and

all votes after the first be 10 minutes in length.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 292, S. 1068.

I further ask that the committee-reported substitute amendment be considered; the Begich amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the committee-reported substitute, as amended, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, February 12, 2014; 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; that following any leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business until 11 a.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the Republicans controlling the first half and the majority controlling the final half; and that following morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session under the previous order.

So there will be up to four rollcall votes starting at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow. We expect to receive the debt limit legislation and the military retirement pay bill from the House tomorrow and we hope to consider both items during tomorrow's session.

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

Mr. President, I now move to proceed to Calendar No. 298.

Mr. President, at 5:30 p.m. there will be a rollcall vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1963.

Measures Placed on the Calendar--H.R. 3590 and H.R. 3964

I am told there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading.

I object to any further proceedings with respect to these two bills.

Mr. President, today the Senate will consider new legislation that would restore earned retirement pay to the men and women of our Armed Forces. The measure restores cost-of-living adjustments for all military retirees regardless of age, disability or employment status. Congress should protect veterans who put their lives on the line to protect our country.

I appreciate very much Senators Pryor, Shaheen, Hagan, and Begich for their leadership on this issue. Although the provision reversed by this measure doesn't take effect until the end of next year, there is no reason to delay, and we should move forward with it. I hope Republicans will join Democrats to pass this bill without their usual partisan games.

Unfortunately, the type of obstruction and delay I just referred to was on full display here last week. On Thursday, the Senate fell one vote short of restoring unemployment insurance for 1.7 million Americans who lost their jobs through absolutely no fault of their own. Every single Democratic Senator voted for this bill. A few reasonable Republicans--four, to be exact--voted with us to restore benefits that would boost our economy and provide a lifeline for out-of-work Americans. But we are still one Republican vote shy before we are able to do this for these people.

It is so unfair. If someone loses their job today, they can apply for unemployment benefits and get them immediately. But if a person has been out of work for a long time at 57 years old and can't find a job, that person needs this, but they can't because of what the Republicans have done.

When 1.7 million struggling Americans fall short of the rent, skip meals to save cash or turn down the thermostat on freezing days, they will know who to blame--41 Republican Senators. We only need one more Republican--a total of 5 out of 45--to step up and do what is right for these desperate people.

We are not going to stop pushing to restore emergency unemployment insurance. In the weeks to come, we will vote again on this important issue and again if we need to. In the meantime I hope my colleagues across the aisle will think long and hard about their unsustainable position on this issue, a position that hurts middle-class families.

Minimum Wage

In the weeks ahead the Senate will also consider legislation to give 17 million minimum wage workers a much needed raise and our economy a much needed boost. No American working full time should live below the poverty line, but many of them do. So we are going to push to make the minimum wage a living wage and raise it to $10.10 an hour.

To ensure this country's economic success, it is crucial that every American has an opportunity to succeed as well. When some people have to work two or three full-time jobs just to pay the rent and put food on the table, something is wrong.

Minimum wage workers spend their paychecks in local stores, gas stations, and restaurants. That is why an increase in the minimum wage would create 85,000 new jobs.

This increase is also key to ensuring every full-time worker has a shot at entering the middle class. Contrary to the common belief, raising the minimum wage isn't just about helping teenagers earn a little extra cash. Two-thirds of the people working for minimum wage are women. It is also about helping any woman, such as a 35-year-old woman earning half of her family's income and more than one-quarter of the workers who would benefit from a raise are supporting children.

Last week Republicans voted against the interests of middle-class Americans doing their best to survive unemployment. When it comes time to consider Democrats' minimum wage proposal, I hope the Republicans will choose the right way, not the wrong way, as they have done so often. They should stand for middle-class families rather than resort to obstruction.

Reservation of Leader Time

I ask the Chair to announce the business of the day.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the hard work and dedicated service of my friend Pat Mulroy who is retiring from her position as general manager of the Las Vegas Valley Water District and the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

In Nevada, as well as much of the Southwest, water is an important and scarce resource; and since 1989, Pat has been an unparalleled leader for Nevada and the Nation in managing our precious water supplies. I applaud her tremendous abilities and vast understanding of our region's water demands, which helped her lead our State through unprecedented strains on our water resources.

During her time at the water district and the water authority, Pat worked tirelessly to invent solutions to solve Nevada's complex water problems and has been instrumental in finding a balance between regional growth and water conservation. In a 6-year span, from 2002 to 2008, the population in the Las Vegas area increased by more than 400,000 people. Yet Pat's innovative conservation techniques have helped reduce Southern Nevada's water usage by a third.

Over the years, I have watched Pat rise to challenge after challenge. Early on, she initiated negotiations with water purveyors in Arizona, then Utah, California, and Mexico. Pat has proven herself as a powerful and effective voice for Nevada when negotiating Colorado River system agreements, and her strong leadership helped her build unmatched partnerships with the States that share the Lower Colorado River Basin. Through Pat's persistence and proactive response to climate change and western water issues, she has truly helped shape Southern Nevada and the region into what it is today.

Pat has received many acknowledgements and awards for her hard work, including the National Jewish Medical and Research Center's Humanitarian Award, the University and Community College System of Nevada Board of Regents' Distinguished Nevadan Award, and the Public Education Foundation's Education Hero Award.

Many know Pat as an expert on water issues, but I also know her as loving wife to her husband Robert, a devoted mother, and an active leader in her community. I think so highly of Pat and believe she has done such important work for our State and our country. She will surely be missed, and I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.