Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following treaty on today's Executive Calendar: No. 15. I further ask unanimous consent that the treaty be considered as having passed through its various parliamentary stages, up to and including the presentation of the resolution of ratification; that any committee conditions, declarations, or reservations be agreed to, as applicable; that any statements be printed in the Congressional Record, as if read; further, that when the resolution of ratification is voted on, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and the President be notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask for a division vote on the resolution of ratification.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following treaty on today's Executive Calendar: No. 5. I further ask unanimous consent that the treaty be considered as having passed through its various parliamentary stages, up to and including the presentation of the resolution of ratification; that any committee conditions, declarations, or reservations be agreed to, as applicable; that any statements be printed in the Congressional Record as if read; further, that when the resolution of ratification is voted on, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be notified of the Senate's action, and that following disposition of the treaty, the Senate return to legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask for a division vote on the resolution of ratification.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, with concurrence of the Democratic leader, the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 235, S. 1516. I ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported substitute be withdrawn, and the managers' amendment at the desk be agreed to as original text for the purposes of further amendment, the Harkin amendment at the desk be agreed to, and that the only other amendments in order be the following, the text of which is at the desk: McCain on rail security, Sununu on long distance trains, Sununu on competition, and Sessions on Amtrak debt.

I further ask that there be 1 hour equally divided on each of the amendments, and 1 hour of general debate on the bill, and that following the disposition of amendments and the use or yielding back of time, the managers' substitute as amended, if amended, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time, and the Senate proceed to a vote on passage without any intervening action or debate. I further ask that no points of order be waived by virtue of this agreement.

Mr. President, I understand there are three bills at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc.

Mr. President, I now ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bills on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request, all en bloc.

Mr. President, it is getting late. It is now after midnight, and we have a little bit more work to do. While we gather the papers for that work, 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 ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to consideration of S. Res. 556, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

I ask unanimous consent the HELP Committee be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 532.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

I ask unanimous consent the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 545, and the Senate then proceed to its consideration.

I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.

I ask unanimous consent that H. Con. Res. 456 be placed on the Senate calendar.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent notwithstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President pro tempore and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to the commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent actions of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the Senate's adjournment, committees be authorized to report legislative and executive matters on Wednesday, August 30, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of H. Con. Res. 467, the adjournment resolution, provided that the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that during the adjournment of the Senate, the majority leader, majority whip, and senior Senator from New Mexico be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations on today's Executive Calendar: Calendar Nos. 622, 760, 770, 773, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 820, 822, 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 832, 833, 834, 835, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848, 849, 850, 851, 852, 853, 854, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859, 860, 861, 862, 863, 864, 865, 867, 868, 869, 870, 871, 872, 873, 874, 875, 876, 877, 878, 879, 880, 883, 884, 885, 886, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk.

Provided further that the following committees be discharged from the nominations listed and they be considered en bloc:

Agriculture Committee, Margo McKay, PN1665; Nancy Montanez-Johner, PN1693 and PN1695; Michael Dunn, PN1694; Bruce Knight, PN1763 and PN1764; Charles Christopherson, Jr., PN1865;

HELP Committee, Camilla Benbow, PN1709;

Homeland Security, James Bilbray, PN1873.

I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

As in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that all nominations received by the Senate during the 109th Congress remain in status quo, notwithstanding the August 4, 2006, adjournment of the Senate and the provisions of rule XXXI, paragraph 6, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, with the following exceptions: Calendar Nos. 37, 169, 553, 614, 624, 572, 881, 882; in committees, PNs 719, 1315, 193, 1297, 778.

Mr. President, a number of the nominations we just went through were sent back. For clarification, they were sent back based on objections from the minority. So it is clear, they are not coming from me as the reason they are being sent back.

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 467 until 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 5. I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and the Senate then resume consideration of H.R. 5631, the Defense appropriations bill. I further ask that at 4:30 p.m., the Senate proceed to Executive Calendar No. 819, Kimberly Ann Moore, as under the previous order.