Floor Statements

Mr. President, I understand there are two bills at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc.

I now ask for the second reading of both of these matters and object my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 2352, and the bill be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow, July 29, 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, there be a period of morning business until 12 noon, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided between the two leaders or their designees, with the Republicans controlling the first half and the majority controlling the final half; that at 12 noon the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 952, as provided under the previous order; further, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings; and finally, upon disposition of Calendar No. 899 and resuming legislative session, the Senate execute the order with respect to H.R. 5021.

Mr. President, at 2:45 p.m. tomorrow we will have a rollcall vote on the confirmation of the McDonald nomination to be the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, followed by several voice votes to confirm the nominations of Andre, Hoza, and Polaschik. We will then turn to consideration of the Highway Transportation Funding Act.

Senators should expect five rollcall votes tomorrow evening in relation to the Wyden, Carper-Corker-Boxer, Lee, and Toomey amendments and on passage of H.R. 5021, as amended, if amended. Senators will be notified when those votes are scheduled.

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

Mr. President, following my remarks and those of the Republican leader, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 453, the Bring Jobs Home Act. This will be postcloture time. Cloture has been invoked on this measure.

At 1:45 this afternoon there will be a voice vote on the adoption of the motion to proceed to the Bring Jobs Home Act. There will be a rollcall vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Pamela Harris to be a U.S. circuit judge for the Fourth Circuit, followed by a voice vote on confirmation of the nomination of Lisa Disbrow to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force.

Order of Procedure

I ask unanimous consent that at 3:40 this afternoon, the Senate conduct a moment of silence in memory of the 1998 Capitol shooting that resulted in the deaths of Special Agent John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut.

Mr. President, S. 2648 is due for a second reading.

Mr. President, I object to any further proceedings with respect to this legislation.

Mr. President, many years ago I came to Washington, DC, to go to law school. I came back here because Nevada did not have a law school. Although I had opportunities to go other places, I came back here because it was kind of the thing Nevadans did. I got a job through my Nevada Congressman--we only had one at the time--Walter S. Baring. I had what was called a patronage job. I was a Capitol police officer. I was assigned here to the Capitol, assigned to the House side. That is what I did. My badge is still in my conference room. I worked the evening shift--from 3 to 11, as I recall.

When I was a member of the Capitol Police Force, as I have said here on the floor, I did not do anything that was very dangerous. The most dangerous thing I did was direct traffic out on Constitution Avenue. At that time they had subway tracks in the road, and cars would bounce around. I did not do anything that was very dangerous; but I was a police officer. I am very proud of that.

In this Senate Chamber, as we speak, there are people who are assigned to take care of us, staff, and all of the tourists who come in. We have tourists in the galleries. The police officers are assigned everyplace. Some have uniforms; most of them do not. Their job

is to do everything they can to make sure this magnificent Capitol Complex is safe. Every day there are people who, if they could, would do damage to this Capitol and to the people who work here.

In 1998 two of our Capitol police officers were on duty. A crazed man--16 years ago--came into the Capitol and shot Jacob Chestnut cold dead, right there at what we call the Memorial Door. John Gibson heard this commotion and saved many tourists and staff from this crazed man, but in the process he was also killed. Both officers died that day. They had served a combined 36 years on the force protecting all of us and all of the many people who come to this Capitol Complex.

I know the families of these two officers. I have met with them on a yearly basis. I know nothing can make up for the loss of these two fine men 16 years ago, but I hope their families and friends take comfort in knowing that those of us who were here that day hold them in our memories and in our hearts.

While it is little solace to their families, the tragedy that day made the Capitol a safer place. It was because of them that we finally were able to make this a safer place. We had worked on it for well more than 10 years. We now have a visitor center. You walk outside; you see a beautiful lawn. Under that is a visitor center. There is as much underground there as on top of the ground.

Now people can come into the Capitol. They can be safe and secure. There are places to go to the bathroom. There is food and wonderful viewing in that complex. So because of these two men, we were able to get that done and make the Capitol a safer place. We have a Capitol visitor center now which prevents a madman like the one who shot these two police officers from entering the Capitol. We are grateful for their sacrifice. We are grateful every day to the devoted men and women like them who guard these hallowed halls.

As I remember, we had a Senate retreat in southern Virginia. My wife became ill. As I have said a number of times before, Agent Gibson rushed to her side. He had to run a long way from where they were. I can remember how he was perspiring when he came in. So I have fond memories of these two police officers and recognize the sacrifice they made for us.

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 me, with the concurrence of Senator McConnell, the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 952; that there be 4 hours 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 nomination; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

I note the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, following the cloture vote on Executive Calendar No. 777, Disbrow, the Senate consider and vote on calendar No. 919, Mendez; No. 920, Rogoff; and No. 921, Andrews; further, that at a time to be determined by me, in consultation with Senator McConnell, on Monday, July 28, the Senate consider Calendar Nos. 915, Kaye; 916, Kaye; 913, Mohorovic; and 744 McKeon; that there be 2 minutes for debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees prior to each vote; that upon the use or yielding back of time the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations; further, if any nomination is 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 nominations; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

For the information of all Senators, we expect nominations considered today to be confirmed by voice vote.

Would it be appropriate at this time to yield back the 2 minutes of time? I ask unanimous consent to do that.

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

Madam 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 ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 24, 2014, at 10 a.m., in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 24, 2014, at 10 a.m., in room SD-215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Social Security: A Fresh Look at Workers' Disability Insurance.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 24, 2014, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Iraq at a Crossroads: Options for U.S. Policy.''

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 July 24, 2014, at 10 a.m. in room SD-430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Role of States in Higher Education.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 24, 2014, at 10:30 a.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 24, 2014, at 3:45 p.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 24, 2014, at 10:15 a.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Judicial Nominations.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 24, 2014, at 2:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing entitled, ``The Path to Efficiency: Making FEMA More Effective for Streamlined Disaster Operations.''

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 462.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the Rubio amendment to the preamble be agreed to, the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, the amendment to the title be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be made and laid upon the table.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 519.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.