Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and honor the Hispanic Museum of Nevada--Museo Hispano de Nevada--for its 20 years of service to our community.

For the last two decades, Museo Hispano de Nevada has been guided by its mission: ``dedicated to promote awareness, education and resources of the diverse Hispanic cultures and traditions to enhance intercultural understanding among community members.'' This institution has played a critical role in educating Nevadans about the diversity of Latino heritage and promoting pride and cultural understanding.

The Museo Hispano de Nevada has sponsored numerous field trips and workshops, shedding light on the different cultural traditions of the Latino population and enabling future generations to learn about their heritage through historic artifacts and art exhibits. These programs and activities have served as learning tools for educating our community about the diversity in my home State of Nevada, where 26 percent of the population is Latino, accounting for 46 percent of growth in the Silver State.

As someone who has directly witnessed the importance of having a museum dedicated to preserving the history and telling the stories of Latinos in my home State, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act, S. 1868. It is my hope that a museum illuminating the richness of the Latino culture and history, as well as the numerous contributions Hispanics have made to the United States, will be built in our Nation's Capital in the near future.

I would also like to recognize Lynnette Sawyer, executive director of the museum, for her outstanding leadership and commitment to the museum. I extend a warm felt thanks to the staff and countless individuals who have worked over the years to make this great institution a resource for all Nevadans. Please join me in congratulating the Hispanic Museum of Nevada for 20 years of great work honoring the rich diversity among Hispanics and their many contributions to our great State. I wish the Museo Hispano de Nevada continued success in their future endeavors.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Joe Mahoney, a fellow in Senator Bingaman's office, be granted the privilege of the floor during consideration of today's bill.

Mr. President, we are now considering the motion to proceed to the Stop Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act.

At 4:30 p.m. today, the Senate will proceed to executive session to consider three judicial nominations: the Nguyen nomination, a ninth circuit nominee, and the Baker and Lee nominations, which are two U.S. district court nominations from Arkansas and Illinois, respectively. At 5:30 p.m., there will be up to three rollcall votes on confirmation of the nominations.

Mr. President, a woman from Nevada by the name of Amy--a single mother from Las Vegas--was devastated when she was laid off 3 years ago because of her employer having little work. She wasn't in love with her job doing bookkeeping for a local construction company, but she loved the steady paycheck. Looking back on that pink slip, Amy views it, of course, as a setback in one sense, but she feels very good about the fact it gave her a second chance.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 512 and 513; 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; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Would the Chair announce the business of the day?

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, today I rise to honor and commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Las Vegas News Bureau. Since its inception in 1947, the News Bureau has captured photos and videos of the colorful history of Las Vegas. Community leaders started the News Bureau as a way to generate publicity for Las Vegas through the use of photography and film, and in doing so, they preserved the history of the city.

The News Bureau has been at the forefront of documenting and publicizing Las Vegas as the world's leading destination for decades. Over the years, they have captured memorable moments of some of Vegas's most famous entertainers, illustrated the growth of the iconic skyline, and archived the scenic imagery of the surrounding Las Vegas landscape.

Amidst their archives, the News Bureau captured unforgettable moments of show biz legends and Las Vegas regulars, like Elvis, Liberace, Wayne Newton, and Frank Sinatra, among others. The archive also houses historical moments such as President Kennedy's trip to visit the troops at the Nevada Test Site, where the atomic bomb was detonated during the 1950s and 1960s. And alongside the many photographs of celebrities and familiar faces are millions of photos documenting the various parades, events, and tourists that helped make Las Vegas the thriving destination that it remains today.

The Las Vegas News Bureau plays a unique role in marketing southern Nevada as a one-of-a-kind destination. Their iconic images of Las Vegas provide a competitive advantage that helps distinguish Las Vegas from other destinations, while also acting as an invaluable resource to journalists and historians alike. The unforgettable pictures of the neon lights of historic Fremont Street and glamorous images of Las Vegas show biz are more than just pieces of Las Vegas history: They represent what made Las Vegas the universally renowned city that it is today.

For the past 65 years, the News Bureau has chronicled the rise of Las Vegas into the Entertainment Capital of the World. I am proud to recognize their accomplishments before the Senate today, and I know that they will continue to tell the story of Las Vegas for years to come.

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

Mr. President, the Senate is now considering S. 1925, with the time until 11:30 for debate only. The Republicans will control the first 45 minutes and the majority will control the second 45 minutes.

At 11:30 today the Senate will proceed to executive session to consider the Costa and Guaderrama nominations, both nominated to be U.S. district judges for Texas. At noon there will be two votes on the confirmation of these nominations.

Senator McConnell and I are trying to work through a way to proceed on the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. I hope to be able to have some announcement around 2 o'clock.

Recognition of the Minority Leader

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate resumes legislative session, the period for debate only on S. 1925 be extended until 2:30 p.m. today, with the time equally divided between the two leaders or their designees and that I be recognized at 2:30 p.m. today.

I ask unanimous consent the committee-reported substitute be withdrawn, that a Leahy substitute amendment which is at the desk be made pending, and the only amendments in order to the Leahy substitute or the underlying bill be the following: Klobuchar No. 2094, Cornyn No. 2086, and Hutchison No. 2095; that there be 60 minutes of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees for consideration of the amendments and the bill; that there be no amendment in order to any of these amendments; that there be no motions or points of order to the amendments or the bill other than budget points of order or the applicable motions to waive; that the amendments be subject to a 60-affirmative vote threshold; that upon disposition of the three amendments, the Leahy substitute amendment, as amended, if amended, be agreed to and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended; that all after the first vote be 10-minute votes and there be 2 minutes equally divided between the two votes.

Mr. President, I will briefly say--I know everyone is anxious to get to work--we have had some pretty good work in recent days. The postal bill was extremely difficult to get done. We had the highway bill; that was difficult to get done. Those are bipartisan in nature. It took a while to get through this matter that is before us, but now we are there. It is an effort on everyone's behalf. On my side, I am grateful for the work done by Senators Patty Murray and Pat Leahy and many others, but I am glad we are at the point where we are today.

I now move to proceed to Calendar No. 365, S. 2343.

I have a cloture motion at the desk.

I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived, and a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2343 occur at noon on Tuesday, May 8, 2012.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 263, 502, 566, 567, 572, 624, 653, 654, 656, 657, 658, 659, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, and all nominations placed on the Secretary's desk in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy; 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; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on Monday, May 7, 2012, at 4:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 508, 568, and 569; that there be 60 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed, 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; that any related statements be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then resume legislative session.