Floor Statements

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

Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Chris Doby on his service to the U.S. Senate and the Capitol Hill community. A loving husband and devoted father, Chris has dedicated three decades of his life to the Senate.

Chris began working for the Senate Disbursing Office as a junior auditor in 1983. His honorable character and strong work ethic quickly earned him greater responsibility. Before becoming the assistant financial clerk Chris served as auditor, audit counselor, senior auditor, senior auditor/counselor, financial manager system analyst, systems administrator and IT systems administrator. In 2005 Chris became the financial clerk of the Senate where he has served with distinction.

His discipline and special attention to detail have been remarkable. Chris is best known for his willingness to share his extensive institutional knowledge and for his calm demeanor. When faced with the difficulties of government shutdowns and the challenges of sequestration, Chris remained steadfast, and encouraged others to do the same. He has served this body, our staff and the entire Capitol Hill community with character and conviction and he will be greatly missed.

I join my colleagues in wishing Chris all the best in his well- deserved retirement.

I ask unanimous consent that the proponent debate time for S. 2280 be divided as follows: 2 hours under the control of Senator Hoeven or his designee and 1 hour under the control of Senator Landrieu or her designee.

Mr. President, I understand that H.R. 2 is at the desk and due for a second reading.

I would object to any further proceedings at this time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 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 resume consideration of S. 2280, as provided under the previous order; and that the Senate then recess from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

For the information of all Senators, if all debate time is used, there will be up to five rollcall votes at approximately 6:15 p.m. in relation to the Keystone XL Pipeline, confirmation of the Abrams, Cohen, and Ross nominations, and then 30 minutes of debate prior to a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to the USA FREEDOM Act.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the provisions of S. Res. 579 as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Howard O. Greene, Jr.

Madam President, very quickly, I ask unanimous consent that the next vote be 10 minutes in duration, and it will be the last vote prior to a 5:30 p.m. vote on Monday.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 5:30 p.m., Monday, November 17, all postcloture time be considered expired with respect to the House message to accompany S. 1086; that the motion to concur with amendment No. 3923 be withdrawn; and the Senate proceed to vote on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 1086; that upon the disposition of the House message, the Senate proceed to executive session and vote on cloture on Executive Calendar Nos. 856, Abrams; 857, Cohen; and 858, Ross; further, that if cloture is invoked on any of these nominations, that on Tuesday, November 18, following the Senate's action with respect to S. 2280, as provided under a previous order, the Senate proceed to executive session, that all postcloture time be considered expired, and the Senate proceed to vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order upon which cloture was invoked; further, with respect to the nominations in this agreement, that if any nomination is confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; that upon disposition of the Ross nomination, the Senate resume legislative session and the motion to proceed to S. 2685; that there be 30 minutes of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees on the motion to proceed; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2685; further, that with any sequence of multiple votes there be 2 minutes for debate prior to each vote and all rollcall votes after the first vote in each sequence be 10 minutes in length; and, finally, that the time in opposition to S. 2280 be under the control of Senator Boxer or her designee.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the career of Sheriff Mike Haley, who has served as the Washoe County sheriff since January 2, 2007.

For more than 30 years, Mike Haley has been dedicated to protecting the people of Washoe County. He started his career in 1980 as a deputy sheriff and proceeded to work and supervise in every division within the Sheriff's Office. When he was elected sheriff, his vast experience and understanding of the community he served enhanced Washoe County. Sheriff Haley spearheaded groundbreaking projects, such as the Northern Nevada Counter-Terrorism and Cyber Center and the Area Crime Evaluation System, and used these technological advances to make the Washoe County Sheriff's Office more efficient. Under his leadership in an extremely poor economic situation, county law enforcement overcame budgetary challenges and continued his efforts to make Washoe County safer.

Mike Haley has helped Nevada immensely beyond his role as sheriff. He serves as vice-chair for the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security and is chairman of the Nevada High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. In previous years, he was the president of the Nevada Sheriffs' and Chiefs' Association. These notable positions only begin to demonstrate Sheriff Haley's dedication to the community, and the constructive impact he has had on the Silver State.

Prior to his career in law enforcement, Mike Haley served our Nation as a first sergeant in the U.S. Army. He graduated with honors from Northeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice. His commitment to extending his education and training is evident in all he has done. Mike Haley graduated from the FBI National Academy, the Secret Service Executive Academy, Senior Management Institute for Police Executives at Harvard University, Southwest Command College for Law Enforcement Executives, and the Drug Enforcement Academy.

Throughout his prolific career and his exemplary life, Sheriff Mike Haley has been a great boon to the State of Nevada. I congratulate him on his many successes while serving as the Washoe County sheriff and appreciate his dedication to public service. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 13, 2014, at 11 a.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 13, 2014, at 3 p.m., room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 13, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., in room SD- 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Hearing on the nominations of Virginia T. Lodge and Ronald A. Walter to be Members of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on November 13, 2014, at 3:30 p.m., room SD- 430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Hearing on the nominations of P. David Lopez to serve as General Counsel and Charlotte Burrows to serve as a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on November 13, 2014, at 11 a.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Nominations.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on November 13, 2014, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 13, 2014, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. President, I understand H.R. 4 is at the desk and due for a second reading.

I object to any further proceedings at this time on this legislation.

There is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the nomination of Sarah R. Saldana, to be Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, reported by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Wednesday, November 12, 2014, now be referred to the Judiciary Committee no later than December 4, 2014; that if the Committee on the Judiciary has not reported by that date, then it be automatically discharged and placed on the Executive Calendar.