Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 251.

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 statement relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 252.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that not withstanding the Senate's recess, committees be authorized to report legislative and executive matters on Wednesday, September 2, from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

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 of the Senate, 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 we proceed to executive session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to consider Calendar Nos. 161, 266, 268, 209, 263, 281, 283, 368, 370, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, and 414 and all nominations on the Secretary's desk at NOAA; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc; that no further motions be in order and any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask now that we proceed to Calendar Nos. 217, 218, 219, 259, 260, 310, 311, 313 and that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, and the motions to reconsider be laid on the table en bloc, and no further motions be in order and any statements relating to these matters be printed in the Record as if read and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to Calendar Nos. 415 and 418 and that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table en bloc, no further motions be in order, and any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the Record and President Obama be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent the Banking Committee be discharged from further consideration of PN-499 and that the Senate then proceed to the consideration of the nomination; that the nomination be confirmed and the motions to reconsider be laid on the table en bloc, and no further motions be in order, any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record, and that President Obama be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Veterans' Affairs Committee be discharged from PN-647; that the Senate proceed to the nomination; that the nomination be confirmed and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc; that no further motions be in order and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from PN-823 and that the Senate then proceed to the nomination; that the nomination be confirmed and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc; that no further motions be in order; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged en bloc of PN-819, PN-528, and PN-529; that the Senate proceed en bloc to the nominations; that the nominations be confirmed and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc; that no further motions be in order; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and any statements be printed in the Record.

I have a cloture motion at the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pro forma session on Monday, August 10, not count as the intervening day and that the mandatory quorum be waived.

I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I have had the good fortune of having people to work with me and with us, and one of my prizes over these years has been a young man by the name of Jacques Purvis who has worked on my personal staff. He is, of course, an integral part of the cloakroom. We see him here every day. He helps send to me every day on my e-mail account what is taking place each day. I read faithfully what is taking place because I am not here all the time on the Senate floor. He is bright, hardworking, and so nice. He is going to be leaving the Senate to go to the London School of Economics for an advanced degree. I have tried to talk him out of it, but not really, because he has various goals in mind. He is going to complete his studies in London, come back and go to law school. I hope after that time he will consider coming back and working in the Senate. We will all miss him. He is a wonderful young man, and I consider him a friend.

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 1 p.m. on Monday, August 10, for a pro forma session only, with no business conducted; that following the pro forma session, the Senate adjourn under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 172 until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8; that following the prayer and 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 there then be a period of morning business until 4:30 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each; that following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of S. 1023, the Travel Promotion Act, with the time equally divided and controlled until 5:30 p.m. between the two leaders or their designees.

Under a previous order, at approximately 5:30 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on the Dorgan amendment to the travel promotion legislation.

That being the case, if there is no further business to come before the Senate today, I ask unanimous consent it stand adjourned under the previous order.