Floor Statements

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

Mr. President, following my remarks and those of the Republican leader, if any, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 2432, the college affordability bill.

The time until 10 a.m. this morning will be divided as follows--and there is an order outstanding that dictates this: Senator Alexander will control 15 minutes, and the remaining time will be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees.

At 10 a.m. there will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to the college affordability bill.

Mr. President, all over America today there are newspaper articles of hope--for example, in the Washington Post today, ``Veterans Affairs bills progressing quickly in Congress.'' It quotes me as saying it is something that needs to be done. ``It's urgent that we get this done to resolve some of the outstanding issues within the VA.''

My friend the Republican leader, the senior Senator from Kentucky, ``predicted that GOP senators will overwhelmingly support the bill.''

This is what the article says about Mr. Miller from Florida, the House chairman:

Miller signaled support for the Sanders-McCain bill, noting

that it largely mirrors a series of similar stand-alone

proposals the House approved in recent months.

Each side has run what are called hotlines--meaning permission from Senators to move forward on this legislation--and we have been able to do that. It was my understanding late last evening that the junior Senator from Oklahoma has an amendment he feels should be offered. Fine. Let's bring that up, vote on it, and move on.

This is a bill that needs to get done. Not only are the veterans elated to hear language like what I have just read but also people all over America because we support the veterans community.

We have issues that are so deep and complex that we need to get to. Will this solve all the issues? Of course not. But because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we have 2 million new veterans who have a multitude of problems we have never had in other wars. So I certainly hope we can quickly arrange an opportunity to move forward on this legislation. I stand ready to work with my Democratic allies here and those in the minority to do everything we can to move forward on this legislation as quickly as possible.

Mr. President, I enter a motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on S. 2432.

Mr. President, I see no one seeking the floor at this time.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Con. Res. 37.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Madam President, this is a request to use the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol to give to Shimon Peres the Congressional Gold Medal. He is really a fine human being. I feel so fortunate to have had conversations with him over the years. I have such respect for this man who has been a leader in Israel for decade after decade. This is a man who always stood for peace, a man who has been so futuristic about what should be done in that part of the world. I look forward to this ceremony that will take place. He is now 90 years old. This is just my estimation: Very few people in the world have dedicated such valiant service to their country as this man has to the State of Israel.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Madam President, before I say anything, I really and deeply appreciate the ability of the Democrats and Republicans to work together on an extremely important issue, and I need not editorialize more than that.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 206, H.R. 3230; that all after

the enacting clause be stricken and the text of S. 2450 be inserted in lieu thereof, which is the Sanders-McCain veterans bill; that there be no other amendments, motions or points of order in order other than a budget point of order against the bill and the applicable motion to waive; that the time until 4 p.m. be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees; that if a budget point of order is made and the applicable motion to waive the point of order is made, then at 4 p.m. today, the Senate proceed to vote on the motion to waive; if the motion to waive is agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended.

Madam President, we will have one or two rollcall votes starting at 4 p.m. this afternoon.

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

Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of World Refugee Day on June 20. On December 4, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly decided to designate June 20 as World Refugee Day. Each year on this day, we have an opportunity to honor the women, men, and children who have faced such extreme persecution, conflict, and violence that they have been forced to flee their homes and their communities. I am as saddened by their losses as I am impressed by the strength, courage, and resilience demonstrated by their commitment to protecting their families and building new communities around the world.

There are more than 45 million refugees and internally displaced persons globally. With so many people unable to return to their homes, I am proud to be part of a nation that was built on the basic principle that all men and women were created equal and that all people have basic rights, no matter where they come from. Since 1975, our great Nation has welcomed more than 3 million refugees, and we continue to allow thousands of refugees to permanently relocate here every year. The United States is also the world's largest donor to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Today, we recognize that every minute, eight people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution, or terror. We recognize that nearly half of all refugees are younger than 18 years old. We recognize that, even after fleeing from conflict and persecution, refugees continue to face numerous challenges, from providing food for their families to persevering through homesickness and loss. We recognize that we are a nation that shares our home with those who cannot return to their own.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on Thursday-- that is tomorrow--June 12, at 1l:30 a.m., the Senate proceed to executive session and consideration of Calendar No. 523, under the previous order; further, that following the disposition of that nomination, the Senate proceed to consideration and vote on Calendar Nos. 710, 782, and 776; further, that if any nomination is confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nominations; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 244, S. 1681.

I further ask unanimous consent that the substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended.

Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that S. Res. 470, which is at the desk, be placed on the calendar and that upon the enactment into law of the language of title IV of S. 1681, as amended, the Senate proceed to the consideration of the resolution; that the resolution be agreed to and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 471.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration S. Res. 472.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 12, 2014; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; that following any leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business until 11:30 a.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the majority controlling the next 30 minutes; and that at 11:30 a.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 523, as provided for under the previous order; further, that upon disposition of the Batta nomination, the Senate resume legislative session and be in a period of morning business until 1:45 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees; that at 1:45 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 769, as provided for under the previous order; finally, upon disposition of the Fischer nomination, the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. President, there will be a series of votes at noon tomorrow and another series at 1:45 p.m. tomorrow.

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