Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Congregation Ner Tamid in Henderson, NV. With its strong commitment to serving others, Congregation Ner Tamid is an integral and deeply valued part of the Las Vegas community.

As the largest Reform synagogue in the State of Nevada, with a membership of more than 600 families, Congregation Ner Tamid is an important center for the Jewish community. For decades, the congregation has provided opportunities for religious education to members of all ages and helped sustain important Jewish traditions that have been practiced for centuries. At the same time, Congregation Ner Tamid has worked to develop strong, interfaith relationships with other communities in southern Nevada. Congregation Ner Tamid hosted the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada's annual Thanksgiving observance this past November, bringing together people with diverse spiritual views in a unified commitment to mutual understanding and cooperation.

In particular, I appreciate the value Congregation Ner Tamid places on serving others and working to improve the Las Vegas community. Congregation Ner Tamid is committed to helping the homeless, engaging in important political discussions, and providing support to individuals and families through a variety of programs and events.

I extend my congratulations to Congregation Ner Tamid on this important anniversary, and I thank Rabbi Sanford Akselrad, Cantor Jessica Hutchings, president Jacky Rosen, and the past presidents of Congregation Ner Tamid for their leadership and dedication.

Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of our Nation's veterans to once again discuss the unjust and outdated policy of failing to give our veterans the full military retirement and veterans disability compensation benefits that they have earned in their service to the Nation. Full payment of retirement and disability benefits, together known as ``concurrent receipt,'' is an issue that I have strongly advocated for more than a decade.

In the past, veterans were prevented from receiving the full pay and benefits they earned in dedicated service to our country. The law required that military retirement pay be reduced dollar-for-dollar by the amount of any disability compensation a veteran received. I am pleased to say that many Senators have joined me in fighting this policy, and we have made some progress on behalf of our Nation's veterans

In 2003, Congress passed legislation that allowed disabled retired veterans with at least a 50 percent disability rating to become eligible for full concurrent receipt benefits by 2013. In 2004, the 10- year phase-in period was eliminated for veterans with 100 percent service-related disability. With the phase-in period now complete, I am deeply gratified that all those veterans with over 50 percent disability ratings are now receiving the full benefits they earned from their service. These are significant victories that put hundreds of thousands of veterans on track to receive both their retirement and disability benefits. However, many more of our veterans remain unjustly impacted by the denial of concurrent receipt.

For me, this is a simple matter of fairness. There is no reason to deny a veteran who has served their country honorably the right to the full value of their retirement pay simply because their service also resulted in a disability that affects them each and every day for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, that is exactly what the current law does. This legislation will bring that indefensible practice to an end.

This is not a partisan issue. Our Nation has been at war for over a decade, through both Republican and Democratic administrations, and our service members have performed with unmatched valor around the world. Our utmost duty as lawmakers should be to ensure that the brave men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces receive the benefits they have earned.

So once again, I rise on behalf of our Nation's veterans. Today, I introduce legislation that will eliminate all limitations to concurrent receipt. We must take action now to support our veterans who have never faltered in their unwavering service to this grateful Nation. This is the right thing to do.

I hope my Senate colleagues will join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of our Nation's veterans to once again discuss the unjust and outdated policy of failing to give our veterans the full military retirement and veterans disability compensation benefits that they have earned in their service to the Nation. Full payment of retirement and disability benefits, together known as ``concurrent receipt,'' is an issue that I have strongly advocated for more than a decade.

In the past, veterans were prevented from receiving the full pay and benefits they earned in dedicated service to our country. The law required that military retirement pay be reduced dollar-for-dollar by the amount of any disability compensation a veteran received. I am pleased to say that many Senators have joined me in fighting this policy, and we have made some progress on behalf of our Nation's veterans

In 2003, Congress passed legislation that allowed disabled retired veterans with at least a 50 percent disability rating to become eligible for full concurrent receipt benefits by 2013. In 2004, the 10- year phase-in period was eliminated for veterans with 100 percent service-related disability. With the phase-in period now complete, I am deeply gratified that all those veterans with over 50 percent disability ratings are now receiving the full benefits they earned from their service. These are significant victories that put hundreds of thousands of veterans on track to receive both their retirement and disability benefits. However, many more of our veterans remain unjustly impacted by the denial of concurrent receipt.

For me, this is a simple matter of fairness. There is no reason to deny a veteran who has served their country honorably the right to the full value of their retirement pay simply because their service also resulted in a disability that affects them each and every day for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, that is exactly what the current law does. This legislation will bring that indefensible practice to an end.

This is not a partisan issue. Our Nation has been at war for over a decade, through both Republican and Democratic administrations, and our service members have performed with unmatched valor around the world. Our utmost duty as lawmakers should be to ensure that the brave men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces receive the benefits they have earned.

So once again, I rise on behalf of our Nation's veterans. Today, I introduce legislation that will eliminate all limitations to concurrent receipt. We must take action now to support our veterans who have never faltered in their unwavering service to this grateful Nation. This is the right thing to do.

I hope my Senate colleagues will join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, today the United States Senate family lost one of its Members. Early this morning, our friend and colleague, Senator Wendell Ford, passed away at his home in Owensboro, KY.

Senator Wendell Ford's service to his State and country spanned seven decades. A veteran of World War II and longtime member of the Kentucky Army National Guard, Wendell Ford's first elected position was that of State senator. In 1967 he ran successfully for Lieutenant Governor. Four years later he was elected Governor.

Following his term as Governor, the people of Kentucky sent him to the U.S. Senate, where he enjoyed a distinguished 24-year career. He was my predecessor as Democratic whip, a position that he held from 1995 to 1999. When Senator Ford retired, he was the longest serving U.S. Senator in Kentucky history, a record that my friend, the majority leader, eclipsed in 2009.

Senator Wendell Ford loved Kentucky. His loyalty to his home State was never in question. During his time here in the Senate, he unabashedly and unapologetically fought for anything that would give Kentucky families a helping hand. Similarly, anyone or anything that threatened Kentucky and its people was met with Senator Ford's fierce opposition.

My thoughts today are with his family. I express my condolences to his wife of 71 years, Jean Neel, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Senator Wendell Ford will be greatly missed by his loved ones, the people of Kentucky and the United States of America.

Madam President, I rise today to recognize the career of the Honorable Philip M. Pro, who is retiring from the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.

For more than 25 years, Judge Pro has sat on the district court. He was nominated by President Ronald Reagan, and he took office on July 23, 1987. From 2002 to 2007, he served as chief judge for the district court. Since being appointed to this distinguished position by President Reagan, his consistent leadership and responsiveness to the public and the court have not gone unnoticed. In October 1993, then U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist appointed Judge Pro as chair of the Committee on the Administration of the Magistrate Judges System of the Judicial Conference of the United States. In 2007, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts appointed Judge Pro to the board of the Federal Judicial Center.

Beyond his remarkable career at the district court, Judge Pro has had a tremendous impact on the entire legal community. He served for several years on the Study Committee to Review the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure. He was actively involved in numerous international rule-of-law programs in countries such as Hungary, Spain, Norway, Malawi, and South Africa. Judge Pro was integral in the establishment of the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He served on the Law Advisory Committee for the law school and the advisory board of the school's Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution.

In addition to his impressive work in the legal community, he has worked since 1987 to educate Nevada's youth about civic duties through his role with the We, the People . . . the Citizen and the Constitution Program.

On a personal basis, I was chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission during tumultuous times, when it was discovered mob influences infiltrated Nevada's gaming establishments; Phil was one of my attorneys. We have joked, since then, that he was able to beat, on behalf of the State of Nevada and its gaming authorities, the best lawyers that the adverse interest could buy. He was then an advocate of the law. Phil understood the law, for which I will always be grateful. I would also be negligent if I did not announce to everyone within the sound of my voice my envy for his great voice. He has a deep baritone speaking ability, which sets him apart from almost everyone else. I thank Phil Pro for his friendship.

Through his years of professional and voluntary service, Judge Pro has become a fixture in the Nevada legal community. I congratulate him on his many successes and decades of dedicated public service. I wish him the best in all his future endeavors.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I now move to proceed to Calendar No. 627, which is H.R. 5771. It is the tax extender legislation.

Mr. President, following my remarks and those of the Republican leader, the Senate will resume executive session and vote on the confirmation of the Santos and Rose nominations. Those will be done by voice.

Following disposition of the nominations, there will be up to 3 hours for debate equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees in relation to the Saldana nomination.

The time from 2:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. will be equally divided and controlled in the usual form, followed by two rollcall votes on cloture and confirmation of the Saldana nomination.

There will be our usual party caucuses today at noon. Rollcall votes will occur for sure this evening at 6 p.m.

Reservation of Leader Time

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, it would probably be appropriate that I suggest the absence of a quorum but ask unanimous consent that the time be divided equally.

This would be during all quorum calls today--because there will be several of them--that the time be divided equally on the Saldana matter.

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

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I am going to submit to the body a unanimous consent request in just a minute. However, I want everyone to understand we are trying our utmost to have a pathway so we can move along. We don't have that done yet, but we are working on it. We have a lot of work still to do.

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 that everyone be patient. I am trying to be as patient as I can be, as is the Republican leader.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding cloture having been invoked, the Senate now resume legislative session and the Senate then proceed to consideration of Calendar No. 627, H.R. 5771, which is the tax extenders legislation; that there be 30 minutes of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees prior to a vote on passage of the bill, which will be a 60-vote threshold; that there be no amendments, motions or points of order in order prior to the vote; further, that if H.R. 5771 is passed, the Senate proceed to consideration of H. Con. Res. 124, which is a concurrent resolution correcting the enrollment of H.R. 5771, modifying the title of the bill; that the concurrent resolution be agreed to; and that following disposition of the concurrent resolution, the Senate resume executive session and consideration of the Honorable nomination.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar Nos. 900, Broadcasting Board of Governors; 651, 970, Chemical Safety Board; 1079, Rasmussen; 514, Lopes; 1104, Bradley; 1141, Rosekind; 933, Tierney; 644, 645, 646, 737, Udall Foundation; 844, 845, 862, 864, 865, Legal Services Board; 757, 1085, 1086, Election Assistance Corporation; 1062, 1005, U.S. Attorneys; 1099, 1100, Coleman; 790, Alexander; 1111, Berteau; 1110, Scher; 1090, Baily; 1091, Cekuta; 1092, Uyehara; 1093, Mills; further, that the commerce committee be discharged from further consideration of the nomination PN 2092, O'Rielly; further, that the HELP Committee be discharged from further consideration of PN2065, PN1279, PN1280, Legal Services Board; further, that the Environment and Public Works Committee be discharged from further consideration of PN1916, Udall Foundation; that the nominations be agreed to; 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 the nominations; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, we are doing our best to keep everyone advised. We have got a picture; we have made a lot of progress. But in the meantime, my favorite words: I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 618; that the nomination be confirmed, 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 to the nomination; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.