Floor Statements

Mr. President, following leader remarks, if any, there will be a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no rollcall votes during today's session.

Senators are encouraged to be on the floor at 10 a.m. tomorrow for a mandatory live quorum to commence the impeachment trial for Judge G. Thomas Porteous.

Mr. President, as far as lameduck sessions of the Senate go, our agenda is rather ambitious, and the session itself is relatively long. It did not have to be this way. We have tried many times this Congress to tackle each of the priorities on our agenda. Each time we have tried, the minority has tried to shut down the Senate. Republicans ground the Senate to a halt and forced endless hours of inactivity. That is why we were here voting on Sunday--on Saturday; I am sorry. Thank goodness it was not on Sunday. That is why we will still be here another few weeks.

We have a long to-do list. But these priorities are not mere leftovers. They are critical to our economy and our national security, to our families and our country's future, and we will resolve them before we adjourn.

We have to give first responders--our communities' firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel--the same job protections that other workers enjoy.

We need to give seniors and disabled veterans some relief, which will also benefit our economy as a whole. The cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security recipients is a question of both fairness and economics.

We will again fight for the DREAM Act. When it passes, millions of children who grew up as Americans will be able to get the education they need to contribute to our economy. Many who have volunteered to defend our country will no longer have to fear being deported.

We will give the heroes of 9/11 long overdue help. Thousands of first responders who rushed to Ground Zero on 9/11 got terribly sick from the toxins that were present. Everyone should agree they should not have to wait any

longer than they already have for the health care and compensation they deserve.

We will protect middle-class families from a tax hike.

We will ratify the bipartisan START treaty to make America safer.

We have to confirm the enormous backlog of qualified nominees to the bench and other important positions. For example, there are more than 30 judicial nominees ready to come to a vote. Most were voted out of the Judiciary Committee without a single vote against them. They have been waiting for a long time to fill these important seats and serve their country. It is time we let them.

We are also going to repeal the discriminatory don't ask, don't tell rule. We are going to match our policy with our principles and finally say that in America everyone who steps up to serve our country should be welcomed.

Republicans know they do not have the votes to take this repeal out of the Defense authorization bill, so they are holding up the whole bill. But when they refuse to debate it, they also hold up a well- deserved raise for our troops, better health care for our troops and their families, equipment such as MRAP vehicles that keep our troops safe, and other critical wartime efforts in Afghanistan and counterterrorism efforts around the world.

Obstruction has consequences. None of the issues on this long list is new. Neither is the minority's effort to keep the Senate from working and keeping Senators from doing our jobs.

It is time to roll up our sleeves--not dig in our heels. My hope for the final weeks of this year is that Republicans finally will realize we all have much more to gain by working together than working against each other.

Mr. President, would the Chair announce morning business.

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, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 662, S. 3991, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, and I have a cloture motion at the desk I wish reported.

Mr. President, I now withdraw that motion.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 655, S. 3985, which is the Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act, and I have a cloture motion at the desk referencing that matter.

Mr. President, I now withdraw that motion.

Mr. President, I now move to proceed to Calendar No. 663, S. 3992, which is the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2010, and I have a cloture motion at the desk.

Mr. President, I now withdraw the cloture motion relating to that matter.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed to Calendar No. 641, H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, and I have a cloture motion at the desk regarding this matter.

Mr. President, regarding H.R. 847, the Zadroga legislation, have we stated that motion?

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 662, S. 3991, occur upon the conclusion of the impeachment proceedings and the Senate resumes legislative session; that the Senate then resume the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 662, and that the mandatory quorum, required under rule XXII, as it relates to all these matters I have filed cloture on be waived.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume consideration of the Articles of Impeachment against Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr., of the Eastern District of Louisiana, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 7, for the commencement of arguments by the House managers and counsel for Judge Porteous on motions filed by Judge Porteous with regard to the Impeachment Articles and that the Secretary be instructed to so notify the House of Representatives.

I further ask unanimous consent that each side be permitted no more than 1 hour for argument on all motions, that counsel for Judge Porteous be permitted to open and close the motions argument, and that the parties be permitted to divide their argument as they wish.

I further ask unanimous consent that then, after recessing for the weekly party caucuses, the Senate reconvene on the Articles of Impeachment at 2:30

p.m. on Tuesday, December 7, for the parties' final arguments on the merits of the articles. I ask unanimous consent that the parties have each 1\1/2\ hours to present articles on all four articles, which, under the impeachment rules, will be opened and closed by the House managers, with no more than two individuals speaking for each side.

I further ask unanimous consent that, at the conclusion of the 3 hours allotted for final arguments, the Senate shall immediately meet in closed session to begin its deliberations on the Articles of Impeachment and the related motions in accordance with impeachment rule

Mr. President, I stress the importance of all Senators attending the impeachment proceedings. I urge them to be in the Chamber at 10 a.m. tomorrow for a live quorum, which will begin at that time, prior to the commencement of the impeachment trial proceedings. This is an important constitutional part of the Senate's responsibilities, and each Senator has an obligation to participate in the case and for his or her office to be present and informed and participate. This type of impeachment proceeding has happened only a few times in the history of the Republic. It is very important for Senators to participate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 4010.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the third time and that a budgetary pay-go statement be read.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of H. Con. Res. 259 and the Senate now proceed to its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 695, submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I note that the main mover of this matter is Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland. She worked very hard to recognize this important office, and she did it for a number of reasons, some of which I worked with her on.

There was a massive study done on the effect of aspirin on people taking it as a way to alleviate heart problems. I don't remember the exact number, but a huge number of people were tested--like 10,000. But there was not a single woman. It was all done with men. That kind of raised the ire of Senator Mikulski.

We found, in doing this, that there were many situations where the diseases we focused on were diseases related to men. An example is interstitial cystitis--a disease I got involved in early on, about the same time we did this. Interstitial cystitis is a disease where 90 percent of the people who have it are women. It can best be described as the pain is like shoving slivers of glass up and down someone's bladder. The pain is excruciating and awful. It was a disease that people said was psychosomatic because it was only women who had the problem, so they overlooked it. If it had been men--and we were an all- male legislature at the time--I am sure it would have gotten more attention. I added my assistance to Senator Mikulski, and we were able to establish a protocol. Now people understand this, and it has made a lot of progress. This is one example of why the work of Senator Barbara Mikulski has been so important.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, Tuesday, December 7; that following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate resume consideration of the Articles of Impeachment, as provided under the previous order.

Further, I ask unanimous consent that at 12:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senator LeMieux recognized to speak for up to 15 minutes; that following his remarks, the Senate recess until 2:30 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

Let me make sure, Mr. President, that we have this down right. We are going to, at 12:30 p.m., proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business, and during that time there will only be one speaker--Senator LeMieux--who will speak for up to 15 minutes. Following his remarks, the Senate will recess until we complete our weekly caucus luncheons.

Mr. President, Senators should be on the floor, as I have indicated, for a mandatory live quorum to begin the impeachment of Judge Porteous. There will be two additional live quorums throughout the day, one at 2:30 and one at 5:30.