Floor Statements

I now move to proceed to legislative session.

I now move to proceed to legislative session.

I send a cloture motion to the desk.

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

I now move to proceed to legislative session.

I send a cloture motion to the desk.

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

I now move to proceed to legislative session.

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the cloture vote scheduled 5:30 p.m. today occur on Tuesday at a time to be determined by me in consultation with Senator McConnell.

Madam President, so that everyone knows, we have a number of Senators who are not going to be here tonight, five that I know of-- Democrats and Republicans. We have a lot of people who went through a lot of trouble to be here for this vote. I want everyone to know that if we continue having votes on Monday--and obviously people think they are not very important so they wind up not coming--they are going to start missing really important votes. I will schedule more than one vote, and it is not right that we have a few people who make it very difficult for everyone.

I note the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

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 and that the time be for debate only until 7 p.m. There will be no roll call votes tonight. I announced that earlier. There will be no roll call votes tonight.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I rise to recognize the important work of Mr. Robert M. Greeley, who is retiring on November 15, 2013, after a long and distinguished career with the United States Capitol Police.

Mr. Greeley joined the Capitol Police in June, 1996, as director of the Security Services Bureau, the most senior civilian security position in the department. Mr. Greeley's team is responsible for the development, operation, and maintenance of the physical and technical security systems needed to counter the threat of terrorism. In this capacity, Mr. Greeley led the management of the multimillion dollar enhancements to the Capitol Complex following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. His expertise in the development and implementation of these security projects and systems was critical to the long- and short-term protection of the personnel and facilities of the legislative branch.

Prior to joining the Capitol Police, Mr. Greeley spent 14 years as a security engineering officer with the U.S. Department of State's Office of Diplomatic Security and Foreign Missions. In that capacity, Mr. Greeley served overseas with regional responsibilities in Athens, Mexico City, and Prague.

Mr. Greeley proudly served in the United States Air Force as a navigational aids equipment specialist from 1978-1982.

As a former Capitol Police Officer, I appreciate the hard work and dedication of our nation's law enforcement officers, and I still feel a special bond with those who honor the badge by protecting and serving our communities. I, along with my colleagues in the Senate, congratulate Mr. Greeley on his well-earned retirement and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to Mr. Brian Monks of Huntingtown, NY, who graciously donated his time and unique talent to help create the beautiful and historic pen set for the United States Senate.

In 2012, the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms began designing a new pen set for use at the Presiding Officer's desk when the Senate is in session. The pen set was to be constructed using historically significant materials, including marble removed from the West Brumidi Corridor of the Senate side of the Capitol during its expansion in 2001, and wood from a 120-year-old mahogany tree that was removed from the Capitol grounds in 2009. The Senate Cabinet Shop crafted the base and the pen holders using these historic materials. When the time came to construct the pens themselves from the same mahogany wood, the Cabinet Shop needed to look for outside assistance.

This is when Mr. Monks stepped forward. He volunteered to expertly hand turn pieces of the historic wood into unique writing instruments for the new Senate Chamber pen set.

Mr. Monks is the vice president of Underwriters Laboratories, and his home in Long Island has housed his wood working hobby for many years. He has earned a reputation as both an accomplished pen maker and a creator of fine hand crafted furnishings. His handiwork on the Presiding Officer's pen set debuted in the Senate in April 2012 and is now on display every time the Senate is in session.

Mr. Monks's fine craftsmanship not only resulted in high quality pens for use by Senators serving as the Presiding Officer, but also contributed to the overall beauty and historical significance of the Presiding Officer's desk in the Senate Chamber.

I join with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in saluting Mr. Brian

Monks for his artistic excellence, his spirit of volunteerism, and his generous contributions to the history and operations of the United States Senate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following any leader remarks on Tuesday, October 29, the Republican leader or his designee be recognized to move to proceed to Calendar No. 223, S.J. Res. 26, a joint resolution relating to the disapproval of the President's exercise of authority to increase the debt limit; that the time until 12:30 p.m. tomorrow be for debate on the motion to proceed, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees; that at 2:15 p.m. the Senate proceed to vote on adoption of the motion to proceed; that if the motion is successful, then the time for debate with respect to the joint resolution be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the joint resolution be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the joint resolution; finally, that all other provisions of the statute governing consideration of the joint resolution remain in effect.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 165, S. 893.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

I now ask unanimous consent to proceed to S. Res. 275.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I am told there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

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