Floor Statements

I send a cloture motion to the desk.

I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived.

I now move to proceed to legislative session.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, on Thursday, May 15, 2014, at 11:15 a.m., the Senate proceed to vote on cloture on Calendar Nos. 667, 668, 669, and then proceed to consideration and vote on confirmation of Calendar No. 693 and Calendar No. 541; further, that if cloture is invoked on Calendar Nos. 667, 668, or 669, at 1:45 p.m. all postcloture time be expired and the Senate proceed to vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed; that following disposition of Calendar No. 669, the Senate proceed to vote on cloture on Calendar No. 732; and that if cloture is invoked, all postcloture time be expired and the Senate resume legislative session and proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment No. 3060 to H.R. 3474; further, that on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at 5:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to vote on the confirmation of Calendar No. 732; further, that there will be 2 minutes for debate prior to each vote, equally divided in the usual form; that any rollcall votes following the first in each series be 10 minutes in length; 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 nominations be printed in the Record and that President Obama be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, with this agreement, on Thursday there will be as many as five rollcall votes starting at 11:15 a.m. and as many as five rollcall votes beginning at 1:45 p.m. That could change a little bit. We will see how the day goes.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn in Southern Nevada.

The Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn was established in 1964, and in partnering with local, State, and Federal wildlife organizations and agencies, they have played a vital role in the restoration of the iconic desert bighorn sheep in Nevada. These incredible animals are a symbol of our State's unique wildlife habitat, geography, and climate. In the Sloan Canyon and Gold Butte areas of Southern Nevada, ancient petroglyphs and rock art dating back thousands of years depict the bighorn sheep and tell the story of its important contributions to our State's history and culture. The desert bighorn is a noteworthy part of Nevada's mountainous landscapes and was officially named the State animal in 1973.

Following westward expansion in the 1800s, bighorn sheep populations struggled to survive against the spread of disease from domestic livestock and the loss of water resources and habitat. By the 1960s, desert bighorn sheep populations, once in the tens of thousands in the United States, dropped to an estimated 6,700 to 8,100. However, the commitment of organizations like the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn to species restoration has helped to more than double the bighorn sheep population throughout the United States.

The fraternity has worked hard to promote responsible management of the desert bighorn and its habitat. By building and maintaining hundreds of water development projects, fighting disease, and educating domestic sheep herders on the importance of maintaining strict separations between bighorn sheep and domestic herds, the fraternity has provided necessary water resources to Southern Nevada wildlife and ensured a healthy bighorn sheep population for future generations.

I commend the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn on their 50th anniversary, and I wish them the best in their future endeavors.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session and the committee on commerce be discharged from further consideration of PN No. 1500; that the nomination be 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 related statements be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

I ask unanimous consent to proceed to Calendar No. 272, S. Res. 314.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Coons amendment to the resolution, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the resolution, as amended, be agreed to; the Coons amendment to the preamble be agreed to; the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 402 and the Senate proceed to its consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, and that there be 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. tomorrow, May 15, 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 time until 11:15

a.m. be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees; further, that following the series of votes at 11:15 a.m., the Senate recess until 1:45 p.m.; finally, that notwithstanding the recess, the filing deadline for first degree amendments to the Wyden substitute amendment and to H.R. 3474 be 1 p.m. tomorrow and the filing deadline for second degree amendments to the substitute be 3 p.m. tomorrow.

So, Mr. President, there will be a series of votes, as I mentioned, at 11:15 a.m. tomorrow and another series at 1:45 p.m.

Mr. 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, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 332, which is the vehicle for the tax extenders we hope to do this week.

Mr. President, following my remarks and those of the Republican leader, the Senate will be in morning business. The time until 11:10 will be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees. At 11:10 there will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 3474. The Senate will recess from 12:30 to 2:15 to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

I send a cloture motion to the desk.

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

Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived.