Floor Statements

Mr. President, Reno, NV, is a beautiful place. It is right below the great Lake Tahoe, the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is a beautiful picturesque place.

I was troubled this morning to wake up and find that Reno, NV, is in trouble because of a devastating fire. We have more than 500 acres that have been burned, and we have a number of homes that have been destroyed. The problem we have is, because of these beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains that are towering over Reno, we get devastating winds, and those winds are blowing now. The winds are at 60 miles an hour while they are trying to control this fire. It is ravaging everything in its path.

So my thoughts are certainly with the families who have lost their homes and the thousands of residents who have been evacuated. The Pinehaven and Caughlin Ranch neighborhoods at this time have been particularly affected. But this terrible fire is raging across these acres in Reno and Washoe County. We have fire crews from all over the region that are trying to stop this disaster, trying to get this rampaging fire under control, but the winds are so strong that helicopters can't take off. So there is a lot of help that should be available that isn't because the winds are so difficult and because, as I said, the helicopters can't get off the ground.

Of course, I called my son Leif as soon as I heard about this. The phone was answered by my little granddaughter Nina, who was trying to explain to me what was going on. Her dad--my son--had been called to his best friend's home to try to help him. He had been ordered to evacuate. They have no water. Alfredo Alonso's home has no water because there is a well and the electricity is out so he can't pump water. But my son couldn't make it there because the police stopped him. They wanted no one coming into the neighborhood because they are evacuating everyone. But my son and his children--my four grandchildren--seem to be well, and they are quite a ways away from the fire.

Of course, I express my appreciation to the brave firefighters who have been working around the clock to contain the blaze and to the dedicated first responders who acted so quickly to protect lives and assist in the evacuation.

Mr. President, it is times such as this we understand what happens to local governments when they have to lay off people--firefighters, police officers. It has happened all over Nevada and all over this country. We were here, as you remember, a week or two ago trying to get assistance for places such as Reno and other communities in America for their fire and police, but the bill was defeated. But these people who are working are shorthanded, so they are

working long hours there. It is impossible to say how many lives they have already saved, but they have.

So my heart, and all our hearts, go out to the firefighters as they carry on with this difficult work to control the flames and protect the communities. I will continue to follow the progress of this fire, and, of course, I will assist Mayor Bob Cashell and members of the Reno City Council and the Washoe County Commission with anything they think I can do to help. I support Governor Sandoval's decision to request a Federal emergency declaration, as firefighters and first responders are doing their utmost to contain things.

So Reno and all of Washoe County can depend on my support in any way they think I can help, and I will continue, as I have indicated, and I indicate for the second time, to monitor this situation very closely.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 436, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 457, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, and 498; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; that 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 thought we were in a quorum call. I didn't realize we were out of session subject to the call of the Chair, so I thank the Chair.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on Monday, November 28, 2011, at 5 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 270; that there be 30 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 Calendar No. 270; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate; that any related statements be printed in the Record; that the President of the United States be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 1541 and that we now proceed to its consideration.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 335.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 336.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore, 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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that from Friday, November 18, through Monday, November 28, the majority leader be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, after consultation with the Republican leader, but not prior to December 5, 2011, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 363, 364, 365, and 406; there be a total of 1 hour for debate, equally divided in the usual form; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote with no intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed; further, that on all of the listed nominations, 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 the nominations; that any statements related to the nominations 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 when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 11 a.m., on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, for a pro forma session only, with no business conducted; that following the pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until 10:30 a.m., on Friday, November 25, 2011, for a pro forma session only, with no business conducted; that following the pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until 1 p.m., on Monday, November 28, 2011; 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 resume consideration of S. 1867, the Department of Defense bill, and that at 5 p.m. the Senate proceed to executive session, as indicated under the previous order.

The next rollcall vote will be Monday, November 28, at about 5:30 p.m., on confirmation of the Droney nomination. Additional votes on DOD authorization amendments are possible Monday evening, and everyone should be aware of that. Senators Levin and McCain want to move as many amendments as they can, and so we will try to schedule some more amendments that evening to be voted on.

I would also indicate, we have worked long and hard today to try to have a consent agreement on amendments to go to the Energy and Water appropriations bill. Senators Feinstein and Alexander have worked very hard. At this stage, we just can't do it. I am sorry we didn't try to do it yesterday because yesterday's issues were easier than those today. Twenty-four hours has not helped, but we will continue to work on that.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand adjourned under the previous order.

Following leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour. The Republicans will control the first half and the majority will control the final half. Following morning business, the Senate will begin consideration of S. 1867, the Department of Defense authorization bill.

We expect to receive the conference report to accompany H.R. 2112, the Agriculture, CJS, and Transportation appropriations bill, which also contains the CR, during today's session. The information I have gotten from the House--and it could change--is that it will be late. I spoke to Senator Levin earlier today. It appears we will have to be in session to try to work through some of that bill, anyway, tomorrow, so we may not be able to complete the conference report and the continuing resolution today. We will see what develops as the day goes on.

This week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, known as the watchdog of the Senate, confirmed what Democrats have been saying for months--that the so-called Republican jobs plan isn't much of a plan and it wouldn't create any jobs.

The Congressional Budget Office report analyzed different approaches to spurring economic growth and jobs proposed by both parties. Among the top job creators were Democratic proposals to extend unemployment benefits and cut middle-class taxes. But when the CBO looked at the GOP plan to eliminate safeguards that protect lives, save money, and shield the environment, it concluded that the idea was a flop. The study concluded that the effects of the changes the Republicans propose would be negligible at best and at worst could actually lower economic growth and slow hiring.

Although their plan would have no positive effect on our economy, the Republicans want to gut the safeguards that saved hundreds of thousands of lives just last year alone. Although their plan could potentially slow economic growth, they want to gut the safeguards that save American companies and consumers $1.3 trillion each year by increasing productivity and reducing medical bills. Nonpartisan experts agree this is not the road to recovery. They also agree with Democrats that putting money back into the pockets of middle-income families and small businesses with tax credits and refunds and extending unemployment benefits is the most efficient way to get Americans working again to turn our economy around. Families who have more money to spend will pump it back into the economy. Businesses that have more money to spend will hire new workers. At a time where we need to conserve every dollar and get the most bang for the buck, these proposals do more with less.

As we continue to discuss ways to combat high unemployment in the coming months, it would behoove my Republican colleagues to remember that not all proposals are created equally. When we consider our next jobs bill in December, my Republican friends will once again face a choice: We can cling to ideological proposals we know won't work or they can join forces with Democrats to pass proposals we know will create jobs. I hope the Republicans prove to be more interested in getting results than in getting their way.