I ask unanimous consent for the Republican leader and me to have a brief colloquy about the application of the standing order related to motions to proceed and nominations that the Senate will consider. The template for this order was a…

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. There is a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant legislative clerk called the roll.

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following resolutions en bloc: S. Res. 5, Harkin; S. Res. 15, a resolution providing a standing order to improve procedures for the consideration of legislation and…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 17, submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The bill clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res. 17) to…

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to a period of morning business with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

2 years ago my friend the Republican leader and I expressed our intention that the funding allocation adopted for the 112th Congress would serve for that and future Congresses. Over the prior 20 years, the apportionment of committee…

I move to reconsider the vote and lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. The resolution (S. Res. 16) reads as follows: S. Res. 16 Resolved, SECTION 1. BIPARTISAN CLOTURE ON THE MOTION TO PROCEED. Rule…

I believe I have no further requests for time on this side. If that, in fact, is the case, and the Republican leader has no request for time, I yield whatever time I have. Mr. McCONNELL. I yield whatever time we have. The PRESIDENT pro…

following leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The majority will control the first 30 minutes and the Republicans the final 30 minutes. Would the…

thank you very much. We are going to have one more vote tonight. The next vote will be on Sandy and matters relating to Sandy on Monday night at 5:30. I have spoken with the soon-to-be chair of the Foreign Relations Committee and Ranking…

H.R. 325 has been received from the House and is at the desk. I would ask the clerk to read this matter if the Presiding Officer so advises. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the bill by title for the first time. The bill clerk…

I now ask for a second reading but object to my own request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection having been heard, the bill will be read for the second time on the next legislative day. ____________________

if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 9 p.m., adjourned until Monday, January 28, 2013, at 2 p.m…

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m. on Monday, January 28, 2013; that following the prayer and the pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be…

In addition, the amendment process set out in this order is not to be understood as establishing a ceiling for offering amendments, but instead setting a floor for offering them. The order sets out a structure for beginning the amendment…

I yield 1 minute to the Senator from Iowa. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Iowa is recognized.

I agree. Furthermore, it is our expectation that this new process for considering nominations as set out in this order will not be the norm, but that the two leaders will continue to work together to schedule votes on nominees in a timely…

There will be two rollcall votes at 5:30 p.m. on Monday to complete action on Hurricane Sandy. ____________________

That is correct. Any other resolutions related to Senate procedure would be subject to a regular order process including consideration by the Rules Committee. Mr. McCONNELL. I thank the majority leader for confirming my understanding of…

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The resolution (S. Res. 18) was…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 18. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The bill clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res. 18) making minority party…

I thank my friend the Republican leader and ask unanimous consent that a joint leadership letter be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: Joint Leadership Letter…

In addition to the standing order, I will enforce existing rules to make the Senate operate more efficiently. After reasonable notice, I will insist that any Senator who objects to consent requests or threatens to filibuster come to the…

And although the order provides that in the amendment sequence, the majority party has the ability to offer the last amendment, the majority will not use that last amendment to eliminate or remove language, if any, that the minority was…

Further, Mr. President, that the time until 7:55 p.m. be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees for the purpose of debating these resolutions concurrently; that the only amendment in order to any of the resolutions is a…