Arlen Specter: “a very short statement about the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill. A cloture motion is being filed…”

“a very short statement about the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill. A cloture motion is being filed this evening, which will call for all germane amendments to be filed by Wednesday at noon. I see some doubt as to whether we are filing a cloture motion. Soon, the cloture motion will be filed. But we have a very complex bill in hand. We are asking Members to file their amendments and bring them down for arguments so we can proceed to finish this bill in a timely manner--no later than by the end of this week, and hopefully sooner. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The request is for the yeas and nays. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Harry Sandlin Mattice, Jr., of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk called the roll. Mr. McCONNELL. The following Senators were necessarily absent: the Senator from Arizona (Mr. McCain), the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Sessions), and the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Smith). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Sessions) would have voted ``yea.''”