Floor Statements

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all postcloture time on the wilderness bill be yielded back.

Mr. President, I have an amendment at the desk. I now ask that the clerk report the amendment.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

I now call up my second-degree amendment which is at the desk.

I now move to commit the bill with instructions and ask for the yeas and nays.

I have an amendment to the motion at the desk and I ask that it now be reported.

I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

I now ask for the yeas and nays.

I now call up my second-degree amendment which is also at the desk.

I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum required under rule XXII be waived.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 25th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, which is held every January in Elko, NV.

For 25 years, the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering has been providing a forum for the expression and celebration of the artistic spirit of those that live and work in the rural West. Through both traditional and contemporary forms, this gathering has showcased dancers, filmmakers, musicians, storytellers, and poets--each contributing their experience of the western lifestyle. From urban areas to rural ones, people from across the country gather in Elko every year to listen to and experience the artistic soul of the authentic cowboy.

The first cowboy poetry gathering was held one weekend in January in 1985. It drew a crowd that included frontier enthusiasts as well as skeptics who questioned whether cowboys could also be poets. After that first gathering, the poetic nature of the cowboy could no longer be doubted, and what started as a small weekend event eventually transformed into a weeklong cultural excursion that draws thousands of visitors and participants from across the globe. It has reinvigorated interest in preserving and spreading the cowboy narrative, inspiring other communities to hold similar events throughout the West.

The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering has created an environment that contributes a wealth of riches to our shared western heritage. In January of 2009 the Western Folklife Center in Elko will host its 25th gathering. I would like to congratulate them on this achievement.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 13; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour deemed expired, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; that there then be a

period of morning business for up to 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half; that following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of S. 22, the wilderness bill.

I further ask that the filing deadline for first-degree amendments be 2:30 p.m. tomorrow and that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

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

Mr. President, following leader remarks, if there be any, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 22, the lands bill. The time until 2 p.m. will be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees. At 2 p.m., the Senate will proceed to a rollcall vote on the motion to proceed to S. 22, the lands bill. I also remind all Democratic Senators there is a Democratic caucus at 2:45 p.m. in S. 207 of this building.

Mr. President, he may use the time to be charged against the majority.

Mr. President, there will be no votes today and likely not tomorrow. We are waiting for President Bush and/or President-elect Obama as to what, if anything, they are going to do on TARP, and that is occurring as we speak. We are going to have a Democratic caucus at 2:45. I ask Democratic Senators to attend. That will be in the LBJ Room, S-207.

We are going to work with Senator Coburn to see if we have to be in all night. He has indicated--to staff, at least--that may not be the case, so we will work out a convenient time tomorrow. If Senator Coburn or others demand a simple majority vote, we can do that. We will work out a convenient time for everyone. That likely will occur tomorrow, but we hope people will not require that vote to take place. We will keep everyone advised as we proceed through the next 24 hours. I appreciate everyone's cooperation.

I am sorry about the Sunday schedule. We have a lot to do. We already are looking to moving toward the next matter, which is Lilly Ledbetter. We have SCHIP, and then, of course, we move to the big one, and that is the economic recovery package. We look forward to having all the input the Democrats and Republicans have asked.

Senator Inouye has been working on the appropriations part. There will be input from the committee and others. Senator Baucus has been working, as have other committee chairs, with the committees.

I think we are in decent shape now to move forward on other things.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m., Monday, January 12; 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 then there be a period for morning business for up to 1 hour designated for tributes to the Republican leader; that following that hour, the Senate resume the motion to proceed to S. 22, the lands bill, with the time during any adjournment or period of morning business counting postcloture.

If you wonder why we are doing this for the leader--of course, we do this ofttimes for the Republican leader. But on a serious note, tomorrow he will have served longer than any other Senator in the history of Kentucky. We will ask our colleagues to join in the celebration. We have time set aside for that so everyone can do that.

There is no objection; is that right, Mr. President?

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment pursuant to this order.

Mr. President, following the remarks, if there be any, from the leaders, there will be a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, it is my understanding there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading.

Mr. President, I object to any further proceedings with respect to these bills en bloc.

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 will now ask that we move to S. 22, order No. 13. I move we proceed to S. 22.

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 send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 22 occur on Sunday, January 11, at 2 p.m., with the mandatory quorum waived, and that on Sunday, after the Senate convenes, the time until 2 p.m. be equally divided or controlled between the leaders or their designees.

Mr. President, what a sad but happy day it is to have that letter read before the world. Joe Biden, from the day I came to the Senate, was the most gracious, helpful person one could imagine. Having chosen him speaks volumes about Barack Obama. We will miss Senator Biden, with his many years in the Senate, but we look forward to his working arm in arm with Barack Obama for the next 8 years.

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

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in recess until 1 p.m. Sunday, January 11; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 22, the lands bill.