Floor Statements

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that during the adjournment or recess of the Senate from Thursday, June 5, through Monday, June 9, the majority leader be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m. on Monday, June 9, 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 until later in the day; that following any leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business until 5:30 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; that at 5:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to consider Calendar Nos. 734, 736, and 739 and the Senate proceed to vote on the nominations in the order listed; further, that if cloture is invoked on the nominations, on Tuesday, June 10, at 10 a.m., all postcloture time be considered expired and the Senate proceed to vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed.

Madam President, for the benefit of all Senators, there will be three rollcall votes at 5:30 p.m. on Monday evening.

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

Mr. President, I now move to proceed to Calendar No. 384, S. 2363, the Hagan sportsmen's legislation.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Following my remarks and those of the Republican leader, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 11 a.m., with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the majority controlling the final 30 minutes.

At 11 a.m. the Senate will proceed to executive session and begin a series of up to four rollcall votes. The first three will be votes on confirmation of U.S. district court judges and the last vote will be a cloture vote on the nomination of Sylvia Burwell to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.

There will be a Senators-only briefing at 5:30 p.m. today.

Recognition of the Minority Leader

Reserving the right to object, the rule will not become effective for a long time. The normal period of time to make comments when rules are being promulgated is 60 days. This one is 120 days. The reason for that is Members of my caucus want to weigh in on this to try to improve the suggested rule that has come from the EPA.

I am waiting to read the proposed regulation myself, which I have not done. I have been briefed on it by my staff, and I will read this closely, as I am sure every Senator will.

I know the importance of this issue, and I will be as cooperative as I feel is appropriate with the Republican leader. But at this time I object.

Mr. President, there is a bill, S. 2422, that is at the desk and due for a second reading.

I would object, Mr. President, to any further proceedings with regard to this bill at this time.

Mr. President, the late military historian John Keegan once said:

Soldiers, when committed to a task, can't compromise. It's

unrelenting devotion to the standards of duty and courage,

absolute loyalty to others, not letting the task go until

it's been done.

The integrity of the American soldiers safeguards our American democracy. Their devotion to duty, even in the face of difficult, trying circumstances, is what protects this Nation.

We have seen that up close the last 10 years or so with the war in Iraq and the conflict in Afghanistan. So I am very thankful for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and that they do not compromise their honor.

This past weekend our military refused to abandon its duty, instead fulfilling its obligation to never, ever, leave a soldier behind.

The release of American prisoner of war SGT Bowe Bergdahl was the culmination of heroic efforts by our military, our government, and our President.

President Obama, as Commander in Chief, acted honorably in helping an American soldier return home to his family. Sergeant Bergdahl's release is the answer to many Americans' prayers. I can't imagine how relieved his parents and family must feel.

It is my understanding that the wait for the parents has been really unrelenting and difficult. We have seen his dad with his long, flowing beard. He decided to grow that beard as long as his son was gone. His son is home now--or almost home.

Unfortunately, though, opponents of President Obama have seized upon the release of an American prisoner of war, using what should be a moment of unity and celebration for our Nation as a chance to play political games.

The safe return of an American soldier should not be used to score political points. When a man or woman puts on a uniform as a U.S. serviceman, they have America's uncompromising support.

Only a couple of weeks ago, the junior Senator from New Hampshire released a statement touting her diligence in calling upon the Department of Defense to ``do all it can to find Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl and bring him home.''

In April, the Republican leader and the junior Senator from Pennsylvania sponsored a resolution ``to express the sense of the Senate that no member of the Armed Forces who is missing in action should be left behind.''

Senator Inhofe, the senior Senator from Oklahoma, even said that the United States ``must make every effort to bring this captured soldier home to his family.''

President Obama and his team did just that. They made every effort and brought this young man home. The request was made by the Senator from New Hampshire, the Republican leader, the junior Senator from Pennsylvania, and the senior Senator from Oklahoma.

Yet some of these Senators are now denouncing the very same efforts that secured Sergeant Bergdahl's release. It is clear they are worried his release could be seen as a victory for President Obama. As the President said, this is not a victory for him; it is a victory for the United States military and our country.

Let me put that notion to rest then. It is not a victory for President Obama. It is a victory for our soldiers, their families, and our great country. No member of the Armed Forces should be left behind, and President Obama saw to that.

There are questions regarding Sergeant Bergdahl's disappearance and whether or not military code was violated. These are issues that will be resolved by the U.S. Army, not Monday morning quarterbacks on Capitol Hill.

But let me just say this. For the sake of argument, let's assume that Bergdahl did violate his sworn oath. What do we do? Do we mete out justice to an American soldier--us, our country? As the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has said yesterday, or the day before, if he has done something wrong, military justice will step in and take care of that violation--if, in fact, there was one.

I don't know, but certainly that is a better approach than having the Taliban do it. I will choose the justice system, the U.S. Army, American justice, every time.

We have seen the brutality of the Taliban. Whatever the results of the military's inquiries, it doesn't change the fact that one more American soldier is home safely.

What was the alternative?

Would any American honestly prefer that a U.S. soldier remain in captivity until all the questions have been answered? Of course not. In the United States we rescue our soldiers first and ask questions later.

This is what RADM John Kirby said in a quote that is so powerful:

When you are in the Navy, and you go overboard, it doesn't

matter if you were pushed, fell or jumped. We're going to

turn the ship around and pick you up.

That is what Rear Admiral Kirby said--again:

When you are in the Navy, and you go overboard, it doesn't

matter if you were pushed, fell or jumped. We're going to

turn the ship around and pick you up.

I am grateful for the many people who refused to forget about Sergeant Bergdahl and worked tirelessly to secure his release.

America is glad he is home.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate proceed to consideration of Calendar No. 796, the Selig nomination, and the Senate proceed to vote on confirmation of that nomination; further, that if confirmed, the motion 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 nomination; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Madam President, we expect this nomination to be confirmed by voice vote, so we expect four rollcall votes at 11 a.m.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the time be yielded back.

Madam President, I yield back all time.

Mr. President, if my friend from Wyoming wishes to speak, we will go through the process for 3 or 4 minutes, and we will put the Senator on what we call automatic pilot if he cares to speak.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, on Thursday at 1:45 p.m., all postcloture time be expired and the Senate proceed to vote on the confirmation of Calendar No. 798; further, that following the vote on that nomination, which is Burwell, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 519, and the Senate proceed to vote on the confirmation of the nomination; further, that if 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 nomination be printed in the Record, and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

With this agreement, there will be two rollcall votes beginning at 1:45.

Mr. President, we are moving this up because we have 10 or so Senators who are going to the 70th anniversary of Normandy.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we proceed to morning business with Senators being allowed to speak up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 218 and the Senate proceed to its consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 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 Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 463.

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 S. Res. 467.

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, S. 2432, it is my understanding, was introduced earlier today and is due for its first reading.

I ask for a second reading and object to my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow, June 5, 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 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, with the majority controlling the first 30 minutes and the Republicans controlling the second 30 minutes and that the final 20 minutes be equally divided and controlled between Senators Wyden and Hatch or their designees, with Senator Wyden controlling the final 10 minutes; and that at 1:45 p.m. the Senate proceed to executive session under the previous order.