On the recordNovember 17, 2011
if I could, there are a number of Senators here who want to offer their amendments and make them pending tonight. That is fine with us. Then if they have speeches, I would suggest that they withhold speeches until everybody who has amendments here can offer them and set them aside so that we can allow people to leave and then have the speeches come, if there are speeches tonight, after anybody who wants to make their amendment pending has that opportunity. That is the process I would suggest, and Senator McCain is supportive of that process. So that is my suggestion: that the Chair recognize people as the Chair wishes, call up your amendment, set it aside, let the next person call up their amendment, set it aside, and if there are any speeches, that they come after everybody who is recognized to call up their amendment has that opportunity. Now, one other thing. This relates to what will happen, hopefully, tonight and tomorrow; that is, we are going to try to clear amendments, if we can, tonight and tomorrow. We will be here at 9 o'clock, and we are going to try to clear as many amendments as we can because we have to make progress on this bill. I just want to thank Senator McCain for all he is doing to help that process and help our leaders. Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I understand we have a couple of amendments already from Senator Cardin, No. 1073 and 1188.
