Floor Statements

Mr. President, I was gratified to hear the Republicans taking their demand for Social Security cuts off the table. The truth is that they should never have been on the table to begin with.

There is still a significant difference between the two sides but negotiations continue. There is still time left to reach an agreement, and we intend to continue negotiations.

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

Mr. President, we are going to come in at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning. We will have further announcements, perhaps, at 11 o'clock in the morning. I certainly hope so.

For the information of all Senators, we are going to have two votes before we break for our caucuses--the Republicans have a caucus, we have one. So we have two votes before lunch. Then at 2 o'clock we will have another vote. If the meetings run over a little bit, that will give people 15 minutes to get here to vote.

Then Senator McConnell and I are both going to be indisposed from 3 o'clock to 4 o'clock. So we will have a little brief time there. Then we will finish the bill, we hope, after that.

The order says we are coming back at 2:15. I ask unanimous consent that it be modified so we come back at 2 o'clock.

So the Senator from Oklahoma is going to debate the second amendment and then we will have two stacked votes.

Mr. President, I am told by the manager of this bill, Senator Mikulski, that she thinks they can complete work on this legislation, the supplemental, in the next couple hours. I hope that is the case. Maybe they can even do it more quickly.

Here is what the plan is. I talked to the Republican leader about this generally, not specifically. Everyone knows we have been to the White House. We have had a constructive meeting. We certainly hope something positive will come from that. The Republican leader and I and our staffs are working to see what we can come up with. It should not take a long time to do that.

I think it would be to everyone's interest if we were not in session tomorrow. It is my plan to come in at 1 o'clock. We have an hour on a previous agreement that we have on Galante. There is an hour of debate on that. We would have a vote.

Sunday. We have another vote that has been set up, Baer. That is a simple majority.

Yes. We will have those votes, start the votes after 2, and then for us we will have another caucus following that. Hopefully, by that time, we will have made a determination, Senator McConnell and I, whether we can do something on the floor in addition to what I have just talked about. But I do think we need that time to have everybody kind of step back a little bit.

If we come up with something, it is not that easy. We are dealing with big numbers and some of the stuff we do is somewhat complicated. But I think it was a very positive meeting. There was not a lot of hilarity in the meeting. Everyone knows how important it is. It was a very serious meeting, and it took an extended period of time, as you all know, waiting for us.

I would like to have the Republican leader speak.

I am going to do everything I can and I am confident Senator McConnell will do the same. But for everybody, whatever we come up with is going to be imperfect. Some people are not going to like it, some people will like it less, but that is where we are. I am confident we have an obligation to do the best we can. That was made very clear in the White House. We are going to do the best we can for the caucuses we have and the country that is waiting for us to make a decision.

Amendment No. 3355

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an amendment to the title of H.R. 1, the text of which is at the desk, be agreed to.

Mr. President, first of all, I congratulate the people who worked

so hard on this bill. We appreciate the new chair of the Appropriations Committee and the good work she did; the work done by the New York delegation, led by Senator Schumer; and the work done by the New Jersey delegation. This is extremely fine legislation. I really appreciate all their hard work, and the cooperation we got from the Republicans was wonderful.

The people in New England suffered a tremendous blow caused by nature. As has happened during the entire history of this country when that sort of devastation has occurred, Congress stepped in to do something to help the beleaguered people. In this case, it is New York, New Jersey, and some other States, but they were the ones hit the hardest. Even now, hundreds of thousands of people are without homes, so I hope the House takes this up very quickly.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we now move to a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

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 at a time to be determined by the majority leader, with the concurrence of the Republican leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 502, H.R. 8.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following leader remarks on Sunday, December 30, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 518 under the previous order; further, that after the use or yielding back of the time, we proceed to consideration of Calendar No. 909 and proceed to vote on Calendar No. 909 and Calendar No. 518; that there be 2 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form prior to each vote; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table; that there being no intervening action or debate and no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record, President Obama be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 475, S. 3454.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a Feinstein- Chambliss substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements related to this matter be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1464 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the Burr substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; that the title amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed to H.R. 6014.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times and passed, the motion to reconsider be made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to this matter be printed in the Record.

I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6620 and the Senate proceed to its consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to this matter be placed in the Record.

Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent to proceed to

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Leahy- Grassley substitute amendment which is at the desk be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; a motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, and any statements related to this matter be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 1 p.m. on Sunday, December 30, 2012; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; that following any leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session under the previous order; and that following disposition of the Galante nomination, the Senate recess for 1 hour to allow for caucus meetings.

Mr. President, there will be two rollcall votes at approximately 2 p.m. on Sunday.