Floor Statements

Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to Judge Audrey Evans, who will be retiring as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas.

Judge Evans graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Austin in 1967 and taught in public schools before eventually settling in Little Rock in 1975. Judge Evans became active in her community, including serving as a volunteer in Little Rock public schools and representing the Little Rock School Board on the Pulaski County Board of Equalization.

In 1983, Judge Evans received her Juris Doctorate, with high honors, from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law where she was Associate Editor of the UALR Law Journal. Judge Evans began her legal career clerking for G. Thomas Eisele, then Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas. Prior to her appointment as bankruptcy judge, Judge Evans represented both debtors and creditors in private practice.

While in private practice, Judge Evans was an active member of the bar in many capacities. Notably, she was a member of the Arkansas Board of Law Examiners from 1995 until 2001, serving as Chairperson in 2001; and she was on the Board of the Volunteers' Organization for Central Arkansas Legal Services, VOCALS, for 8 years, serving as chair from 1993 to 1995.

Judge Evans was appointed to bankruptcy court in February of 2002 by President George W. Bush, and served as Chief Judge from 2003-2009. As a bankruptcy judge, Judge Evans is best known for her courtesy and patience as well as her respect for the law and pursuit of justice. Anyone appearing before Judge Evans felt they had a just, fair, and full opportunity to be heard.

Judge Evans continued her service to the bar regularly speaking at bankruptcy conferences in Arkansas, Memphis, and throughout the Eighth Circuit. She was the Education Chair for the Eighth Circuit Bankruptcy Judges Conference, and served as President of the Central Arkansas Debtor-Creditor Bar Association from 2006-2007. She is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and an active member in the William R. Overton Inn of Court.

Judge Evans has been supported in her work by her husband, Don, their two sons, and five grandchildren. It is with great pleasure today that I rise to recognize and honor her service to Arkansas and to the country.

Mr. President, I wish to acknowledge and thank Ms. Narva Ross, who will retire on January 2, 2015 from the Department of the Navy, for her completion of 45 years of Federal service.

Ms. Ross is a native of Plummerville, AR where her mother still resides. She has held positions with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Economic Opportunity, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of the Navy. Ms. Ross has been a dedicated Federal employee and has served with distinction in a highly professional and exemplary manner for the Department of the Navy for the last 38 years of her career. She has received numerous performance awards including the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1990.

Since July 1, 1990 Ms. Ross has been the lead administrative officer for the Sea Warfare and Weapons Department, Office of Naval Research, Department of the Navy. The Department has an annual budget of approximately $500 million and has 100 employees. As administrative officer, Ms. Ross has provided leadership for all human resources functions, and for the implementation of personnel policy and procedures. She also serves as the Department's lead for the creation of administrative business rules and processes, and she manages contracts for support personnel.

Ms. Ross has two children, Antoine and Jerri, and two grandchildren. Her husband, who passed away in 2005 after an extended illness, was a Vietnam Veteran serving 17 months in theater. Ms. Ross cared for her husband during his illness while working full time and raising their children.

Ms. Narva Ross has been a valued servant to the people of the United States and Arkansas. We are fortunate to have had such a dedicated Federal employee and I thank her again for her 45 years of service.

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

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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 83, which was received from the House and is at the desk.

The clerk will report the bill by title.

I ask unanimous consent that a Murkowski substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; and the motion 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 immediate consideration of Calendar No. 529, H.R. 594.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed; and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2600 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 3043.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion 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 immediate consideration of Calendar No. 484, H.R. 3716.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion 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 immediate consideration of H.R. 4994, which was received from the House.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements related to the bill be printed in the Record.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5062 and the Senate proceed to its consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 5404, which is at the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion 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 Calendar No. 372, S. 1611.

I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be considered, the Bennet and Carper amendments, which are at the desk, be agreed to en bloc, and the committee-reported amendment, as amended, be agreed to, and the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, and the motion 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 immediate consideration of Calendar No. 548, S. 1691.

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

I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2040.

I ask unanimous consent that the Crapo substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.