Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 4, 2011, at 9 a.m.

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

Mr. President, I 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 2 p.m. on Monday, March 7; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired; the time for the two leaders be reserved for use later in the day; that following any leader remarks there be a period of morning business until 4:30 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; at 4:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session as under the previous order; and, finally, the filing deadline for second-degree amendments to S. 23 be 5 p.m. on Monday, March 7.

Mr. President, Senators should expect a series of three rollcall votes to begin at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. The first two votes will be on confirmation of judicial nominations. The third vote will be on cloture of the America Invents Act.

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

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

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, following any leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business until 11 a.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Republicans will control the first half, and the majority will control the final half.

At 11 a.m., the Senate will resume consideration of S. 23, the America Invents Act. I would hope if people have amendments they want to offer to this legislation they would do so. I would hope they would be germane, but there are no restrictions. People can offer whatever amendments they want on this matter. But I would hope we can do that.

Patent Reform

We had an important amendment offered by Senator Feinstein yesterday. It is an extremely important measure. I am supportive of that. It is an issue where I think we should not try to fix something in that area of patent reform that is not broken. But the patent reform bill is important. We have 750,000 patents that have been applied for, and there has been no response from the Patent Office.

One of the big issues we had was how we are going to pay for this, the work they have to do. We had a novel idea. Senator Coburn, it is my understanding, came up with the idea first: have the Patent Office pay for it with the applications people file. That money would go to the Patent Office to get rid of that backlog.

In the past, as I understand it, those moneys have gone to the general fund. So that issue was going to be a big debatable issue on this bill. But there was a bipartisan agreement that we should take care of that. That is in the managers' package. So that is good.

So the other issue is on the first-to-file. Senator Feinstein offered that amendment. We will have a vote on that as soon as we can. I would hope if there are other amendments, we can get to them quickly.

There will be a period of morning business from 2 to 4 p.m. today. The majority will control the first hour, and the Republicans will control the next hour.

Senators should expect rollcall votes in relation to amendments on the America Invents Act to occur throughout the day.

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

Mr. President, I have a cloture motion at the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote on the motion to invoke cloture occur immediately upon disposition of the judicial nominations in executive session on Monday, March 7; further, that the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived.

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 Government Printing Office, GPO, on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. GPO opened its doors on March 4, 1861, the same day President Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office. Since then GPO has used ever changing technologies to produce and deliver government information for Congress, Federal agencies, and the public. GPO plays a vital role in providing the printed and electronic documents necessary for Congress to conduct its legislative business.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the GPO on its 150th anniversary.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to S. Res. 89.

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, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I had the good fortune a short time ago, when we had a ceremony in the Rotunda of the Capitol, to meet Mr. Buckles and talk to him. It is amazing he had such vitality at such an old age. I am happy this matter is completed.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 90.

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, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 91.

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, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 92, submitted earlier today.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc; that there be no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to any of these nominations; that any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate then resume legislative session.