On the recordDecember 15, 2011
with this agreement, there will be two votes at 4 p.m. The first will be on the adoption of the Defense authorization conference report and the second vote on the confirmation of the nomination of Morgan Christen to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act conference report now pending before the Senate. I thank my colleague from Colorado, Senator Udall, as well as my colleague from California, Senator Feinstein, for engaging in a spirited and important--perhaps historic--debate during the consideration of this authorization bill on the floor of the Senate. I especially thank Senator Feinstein. It was a pleasure to work with her to insert language which I think moved us closer to a position she and I both share concerning the language in this important bill. I have the highest respect for the chairman and the ranking member of this committee, Senators Levin and McCain, who have worked diligently and hard on a bill which has become a hallmark of congressional activity each and every year, particularly in the Senate. It takes a special effort for them to produce an authorization bill of this complexity and challenge. They do it without fail and they do it in a bipartisan fashion.…





