Here is a letter from the Long Island Forum for Technology. It says: With a strong record of achievement and leadership, Patricia Smith has been an outstanding Commissioner of the NYS Department of Labor. With her vision and her energy, we…

Here is a letter from the Plattsburgh North Country Chamber of Commerce. They said: Since she assumed leadership of the New York State Labor Department in 2007, we have enjoyed not only attention and engagement from Patricia Smith but a…

Here is a letter from the Manufacturers Association of Central New York: The Department of Labor under the leadership of Commissioner Smith has been fully supportive in our mission to enhance and improve our sector's workforce…

Mr. President, here is a letter from the Partnership for New York City. Again, I won't read it all, but it says: As an advocate for businesses and economic development in New York for more than twenty-five years, I have had the opportunity…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate on February 2, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

Well, Mr. President, here we are. It is about 5 minutes to 6 p.m. We have been here all day today postcloture on Patricia Smith. Again, to recap why we are here--I am not certain why we are here but to recap the fact that we are…

Mr. President, for the benefit of those who are tuned in on C-SPAN in their offices, what we are now in is what is called postcloture on the nomination of Patricia Smith to serve as Solicitor of Labor. This is a nominee who came before our…

Mr. President, I ask the Parliamentarian, what is the business before the Senate at this time? ____________________

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Udall of New Mexico). Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules and Administration be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 2, 2010, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Corporate America vs. The Voter…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Hearing on the Nomination of Harold Craig Becker…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 2, 2010, at 3:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 2, 2010, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 2, 2010, at 10:30 a.m.

Mr. President, it is clear that Patricia Smith is eminently well qualified. She has been thoroughly vetted. We need a Solicitor at the Department of Labor. This nomination has been hanging here since last April. It is time to move on. But…

I am concerned that the Majority has scheduled a vote on Mr. Becker for Thursday.

I want to raise my concern today that Mr. Becker's ethics disclosure paperwork has not been updated with the Office of Government Ethics since July 2009.

the current law clearly protects employers' ability to express their views on the question of whether their employees should vote to be represented by a labor organization.