congressional approval of money to keep the federal government going when the new fiscal year starts on october 1st. after midnight this morning, the house approved a temporary measure that would supply the money for government operations until november 18th. it goes before the senate for consideration today, but majority leader harry reid said that it would be rejected. now, live senate coverage on c-span2.

the presiding officer: the senate will come to order. the chaplain dr. barry black will lead the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray. eternal spirit, the god of all comforts, the challenges continue, but you have promised us strength for each new day. so give us this day our daily intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual bread that we may honor you. empower our senators today to become instruments of your grace , continuing your work on

earth to liberate the captives. may our lawmakers seize the opportunities you give them to protect and bless our world. we pray in your holy name. amen. the presiding officer: please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the presiding officer: the clerk will read a communication to the senate. the clerk: washington, d.c., september 23, 2011. to the senate: under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable sheldon whitehouse,

a senator from the state of rhode island, to perform the duties of the chair. signed: daniel k. inouye, president pro tempore. mr. reid: mr. president. the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. reid: i'm going to in just a moment note the absence of a quorum. there will be no speeches until the republican leader and i have a chance to visit and determine what we're going to do this morning. we expect a vote very quickly. we're waiting for a message from the house. i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

quorum call: recognized.

mr. reid: i'm sorry, mr. president. i ask unanimous consent the call of the quorum be terminated. the presiding officer: without objection. under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. mr. reid: mr. president, i apologize to all members for not being able to be here more quickly but we've done the best we can.

i've been waiting here for the speaker for the last half oregon so and he -- har oregon so and he hasn't called. i ask unanimous consent that at 11:ed 20, not withstanding the message not received with the house, the house message be considered to have been laid before the senate. i move to concur on the house amendment to the senate amendment to h.r. 2608 with an amendment the text of which is the house amendment with the technical change, that there be ten minutes of debate divided. upon the use or yielding back of that time the majority leader be recognized to move to table the motion to concur with the amendment and the senate proceed to vote on the motion to table the motion to concur with the amendment with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection, so ordered.

the clerk will call the roll. #*u hr quorum call:

mr. reid: mr. president? the presiding officer: the majority leader is recognized. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent the call of the quorum be terminated. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: mr. president, you

can see there's not a stampede to talk here, so i ask unanimous consent that tpho with standing the previous order, the motion to table be in order now. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. reid: i move to table -- the presiding officer: under the previous order, the house message is considered laid before the senate. mr. reid: thank you, mr. president. i move to table my motion to concur with an amendment and ask for the yeas and nays. i move to -- mr. president, again, i move to table my motion to concur with amendment -- mr. president, i move to concur with an amendment, and that amendment's at the desk. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion to

concur on the house message with respect to h.r. 2608 with amendment 655. mr. reid: i move to table that and ask for the yeas and nays. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second? there appears to be. the clerk will call the roll. vote:

vote:

vote: