Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that with respect to the consideration of the FISA bill, the text for each of the amendments in order under the previous agreement is at the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 834,

835, 877; 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; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Veterans' Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of following nomination: PN 2024; 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; 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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Armed Services Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1339 and we now proceed to this matter.

Mr. President, I further ask the bill be read a third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent the Committee on Commerce be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4212, and we now proceed to this matter.

The PRESIDING OFFICER . Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the bill by title.

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

Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent the Committee of Commerce be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5859.

I further ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statement be printed in the Record.

I now ask we proceed to H.R. 6364.

I ask that the McCaskill-Blunt amendment which is at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be made and laid on the table with no intervening action or debate, and any statement be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. 3709, which was reported earlier today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Vitter- Brown of Ohio amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to, and the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and all statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 613, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a voice vote on the adoption of the resolution.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to H.R. 1845, which was received from the House.

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, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

I now ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore of the Senate, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two Houses or by order of the Senate.

I ask unanimous consent that from Friday, December 21 through Thursday, December 27, the majority leader be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.

First of all, I appreciate the Presiding Officer filling in on an emergency basis to preside. It is not often we get one of the senior Members of the Senate to preside and I am grateful. It makes it so much easier on everyone else.

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 12 noon on Monday, December 24, 2012, for a pro forma session only, with no business conducted, and that following the pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 27, 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 begin consideration of H.R. 5949, the FISA bill, and Senator Wyden be recognized; further, that the previous order be amended so that there be up to 7 hours of debate on the bill--that is the FISA bill--and all other provisions to the previous order remain in effect.

Mr. President, we have been able to work things out, I hope, to everyone's satisfaction. We are going to have a rollcall vote early in the day on Thursday. It will be at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. It will be in relation to the FISA bill or the supplemental appropriations bill.

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