Floor Statements

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Secretary of the Senate be directed to deliver the original statement of resignation executed by Judge Samuel B. Kent on June 24, 2009, to the President of the United States and to send a certified copy of the statement of resignation to the House of Representatives.

I further ask unanimous consent that a copy of the statement of resignation be referred to the Impeachment Trial Committee on the Articles Against Judge Samuel B. Kent established by the Senate on June 24, 2009.

Madam President, there will be no more votes today. We will have no session tomorrow. When we come back a week from Monday, we will have a number of votes beginning at 5:30.

As I have told everyone more than once, the next 5 weeks after we get back are going to be jam packed with stuff to do. Members should understand that we will have votes on Mondays and Fridays, with one exception which has already been announced: It is July 17. We hope we don't have to have weekend sessions. We have a lot to do. Everyone knows the workload we have. I would hope that we understand the amount of work we have to do. We are going to be in a week longer than the House of Representatives, as everyone knows. Because of our rules, we can't move as quickly as they do. We have an immense amount of work to do. We have the Sotomayor nomination. We have Defense authorization that was reported out of committee today by Senators Levin and McCain. That is something that is very important for the military and to the American people. We have other appropriations bills we have to work on. We have health care. We are going to move as far as we can on that during that period of time. So we have a lot of work to do.

Also, on July 14, there will be no votes after 2 p.m. These are arrangements I made with one of the Senators, and this will be good for the entire body. So there will be no votes after 2 p.m. on July 14.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I rise to honor my good friend, a good American and a good person, Mark Mandell.

Mark will turn 60 years old on Saturday, June 27. I have known Mark and his family for many years, and have long been impressed by his many accomplishments and contributions to his community.

Mark's affiliations are far too long to list but that is an accurate indication of how much of himself he has given to others.

A founding partner at his successful firm--Mandell, Schwartz & Boisclair, Ltd. in Providence, RI, Mark has been listed among the ``Best Lawyers in America.'' He has served as the president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Roscoe Pound Institute of Civil Justice, the Rhode Island Bar Association and the Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association.

In addition to his abundant bar memberships, professional associations, society memberships, civic and community activities, and government appointments, Mark has authored and lectured extensively throughout the United States and around the world.

Mark has been recognized with numerous awards, but I know that he is most gratified not by those that honor his professional achievements, but rather those that acknowledge his good citizenship and leadership in community service.

Many of those awards honor Mark for his strong commitment to the Jewish community he so values. As the Torah implores, ``Justice, justice shall you pursue.''

I am proud to call Mark Mandell my friend, and thank him for his dedicated and principled pursuit of justice. Happy birthday, Mark.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 6, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the McCain amendment No. 1366; that prior to the vote, there be 10 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Nelson of Nebraska and McCain or their designees.

Mr. President, for the information of the Senate, following the disposition of the McCain amendment, the Senate is expected to then vote on final passage of the Legislative Branch appropriations bill, so it is the McCain amendment and then final passage of the Legislative Branch appropriations bill.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on Tuesday, July 7, following a period of morning business, the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 2892, the Homeland Security appropriations bill, and that once the bill is reported, Senator Murray or her designee be recognized to offer a substitute amendment; provided further that this order is only applicable if the bill is available.

Mr. President, let me say, even though he is not here, I wish to extend my appreciation to the distinguished Republican leader for working for several days to help us get to what we have just announced. I was patient, he was patient, and as a result of that we were able to get this done, and I acknowledge his good work on behalf of the Senate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar Nos. 170, 203, 206, 207, 214, 215, 251, 252, 255, 256, and 257; that the nominations be confirmed, en bloc; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, en bloc; that no further motions be in order, and any statements relating thereto appear at the appropriate place in the Record as if read, and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged of PN587, the nomination of Daniel M. Rooney to be Ambassador to Ireland; that the Senate then proceed to the nomination; that the nomination be confirmed and the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; that no further motions be in order; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and that any statements relating thereto be printed at the appropriate place in the Record, as if read.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from PN578, Foreign Service list beginning with Susan Marie Carl and ending with Dale N. Tasharski, nominations received by the Senate and that appeared in the Congressional Record on June 10, 2008; that the Senate proceed, en bloc, to their consideration; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; 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 the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I rushed through these nominations once we were able to get permission to move them forward. Each one of these that we have just read will change people's lives. Some of these people have been waiting a long time to enter public service. Some have been in public service and are moving to a different spot. It is too bad we can't give more recognition to these outstanding individuals. Their recognition will be based on the job they do while working in this administration. All these people who are approved are not Democrats. They come from both sides. I am thankful and grateful we have been able to get this many done. People have had individual questions about all these nominations, and we worked through them.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 190, and that the Senate proceed to that.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce Committee be discharged from further action on S. Res. 199.

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 if there are any statements relating to this resolution, they be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to S. Con. Res. 31.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the 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 notwithstanding the adjournment of the Senate, Senate committees may file reported legislative and executive calendar business on Thursday, July 2, 2009, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m. on Monday, July 6, unless the House fails to adopt S. Con. Res. 31, the adjournment resolution; that if the House fails to act, the Senate convene at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 29; 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 proceed to a period of morning business for 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each; that following morning business on July 6, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 2918, the Legislative Branch appropriations bill.