I am told that there are two bills at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the bills by title for the first time en bloc. The assistant bill clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 2578)…

I ask unanimous consent that at noon tomorrow, July 10, the Senate proceed to executive session and consider Calendar Nos. 903, 695, and 895; that the time until 2 p.m. be equally divided in the usual form on the Donovan nomination; that…

I have a motion to commit S. 2363, and it has instructions. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the motion. The bill clerk read the motion as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] moves to commit the bill to the Committee on…

I yield back the time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, all time is yielded back. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Darci L. Vetter, of Nebraska, to be Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office…

I ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported amendments to S. 247, S. 311, S. 476, and S. 609 be agreed to; the Coburn amendment to S. 311 be agreed to; that the bills be read three times and passed en bloc; and the motions to…

following my remarks and those of the Republican leader, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 12 noon today. During that period of time Senators will be permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each with the time equally…

I had a conversation with the Republican leader on Monday, and we went over the things we have to do this work period. We have a lot to do. One of the things we are trying to do-- because we have so much going on around the country…

there is a cloture motion at the desk, and I ask that it be reported. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to report the motion. The assistant bill clerk read as…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 497. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The assistant bill clerk read as follow: A resolution (S. Res. 497) honoring the…

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at noon the Senate proceed to executive session and vote on the motions to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar Nos. 839 and 842 in the order listed…

On behalf of Senator Udall of Colorado, I call up amendment No. 3469. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the Udall of Colorado amendment. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], and Mr. Risch, for Mr…

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 272. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant bill clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 272) to designate the Department of…

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection…

I ask that the mandatory quorum call under rule XXII be waived. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I have a cloture motion at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion. The bill clerk read as follows: Cloture Motion We, the undersigned…

I ask unanimous consent that the time be yielded back. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, all time is yielded back. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of William D. Adams, of Maine, to be…

I have a second-degree amendment at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment numbered 3490 to amendment No. 3469. The amendment is as…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1216. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant bill…

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2014; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be…

I want the record to reflect how much I appreciate the hard work of the Senator from North Carolina, Senator Hagan, working on this bipartisan bill. She did it with the ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator…

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered. Amendment No. 3493

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times and passed, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…

I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call under rule XXII be waived. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 417. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The assistant bill…