wrong law, it's the wrong tool to use here. [laughter] okay. there being no further business, the committee is adjourned. >> thank you very much. >> thank you. >> and the senate about to gavel in for the day starting their day with general speeches until about 5:30 p.m. eastern time when they'll be voting on two nominations, one for the 11th circuit court of appeals and the other for the energy department. senators will also be voting on whether to move ahead with debate on a bill promoting the energy efficiency. the chaplain retired admiral barry black will lead the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray. o god our strength, you have placed music in our hearts, helping us to carry our burdens by providing us with a future and hope. let your holy power renew our senators today.

remove all that is withered and blighted within them, infusing them with serenity and calm to meet an agitated world, fortified with your peace. teach them to love beauty, truth and integrity, freeing them from pride as they strive to love you. distill upon them the dew of your kindness and use them for your glory. lord, today we thank you for the united states capitol police who sacrificed their lives for freedom -- sergeant eney, detective gibson, officer

chestnut and sergeant holtz. may their exemplary legacies inspire us in all of our tomorrows. we pray in your merciful name. amen. the president pro tempore: 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. protoprotothe majority leader. mr. reid: i now move to proceed to calendar number 332. the president pro tempore: the

clerk will report. the clerk: motion to prototo calendar number 332, h.r. 3474, an act to amend the internal revenue code of 1986, and so forth. mr. reid: following my remarks, mr. president, and those of the republican leader, the senate will be in morning business until 5:30 today. last week, cloture was filed on s. 2262, the energy savings and industrial competitiveness act. as a result, the filing deadline for all second-degree amendments is today at 4:30. there will be up to three roll call votes at 5:30 today -- confirmation of rosenbaum to be 11th circuit judge and confirmation of the croley momtion and finally on the energy efficiency act. henry ford once said, mr. president, quote -- "failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more

intelligently." close quote. those are wise words from a man who knew a thing or two about overcoming logjams. the legislation before us today is an opportunity for senators to intelligently reconsider energy efficiency, and the consequence of this opportunity is very large for this body. shaheen-portman is a good bill. it was a good bill last year when it was blocked by the republicans. it's even better now. this legislation will give our country more energy independence and protect our environment. the shaheen-portman bill also gives americans a fair shot at better providing for their families through increased savings on their energy bills. this is great for working americans. it also creates 200,000 jobs. senators shaheen and portman worked hard with democrats and republicans since this bill was introduced three years ago to make this legislation the effective bipartisan bill it is

today. no single bill will solve all our energy problems, but this is a good first step. the business community agrees. this bill is supported by the chamber of commerce, national association of manufacturers, and the business roundtable. the shaheen-portman legislation is an opportunity for this country to address our energy needs and how they are affecting the environment. but the implications of this legislation extend far beyond energy efficiency. it goes to the integrity of this senate that we care so much about. the shaheen-portman bill is a chance for a fresh start for the senate, really a new beginning. we have been making some limited progress this year and moving legislation starting with the murray-ryan budget resolution. we work together, democrats and republicans, to pass a child care development block grant, a flood insurance bill, an extension of unemployment benefits. as we consider legislation to help american families like

equal pay and a minimum wage increase, republicans got off track and they did not get a fair shot, that is working families. so here we are once again confronted with the possibility a good bipartisan bill may fail. and for what? democrats have acted in good faith. we have bennet over backwards to make -- we have bent over backwards to make this bill work. it seems our efforts are never enough. each new concession we make bring new demands. republicans working with senators shaheen and portman asked for changes in this bill. 10 bipartisan amendments are now included in the bill in this body. republicans asked for a sense of the senate resolution on the keystone legislation and we agreed. republicans changed their mind and requested a vote on stand-alone keystone legislation and we agreed. if republicans stopped their filibuster of this bill and allow it to proceed, the senate will vote on keystone pipeline legislation, and they know that.

that's what they have asked for and we have given it to them. but, mr. president, they have held this bill hostage, this energy efficiency bill as demand after demand has been met, but even now they are still seeking a ransom. so why are we here? why is this bill at risk? i have spoken from time to time recently with my republican colleagues. they come to me saying harry, how can we get the senate back on track? i appreciate their sincerity in trying to find a solution, but the answer is right under their nose. i say to them look what is happening right now. mr. president, i have been told the two cosponsors of this legislation will not volkmer -- vote to invoke cloture. these are two gentlemen who put their name on this bill. look at how republican

obstruction is bringing the senate to its knees again and again and again. now even on this bill, a bipartisan bill, this is not a shaheen bill. it's the shaheen-portman bill. a new hampshire senator and an ohio senator. a democrat and a republican. i repeat -- this bill is being filibustered obviously by some of its own cosponsors. this useless, mind-boggling obstruction is what continually grinds the wheels of the senate to a screeching halt. so to my friends who want to know how we can make things work better in the senate, i say put an end to obstruction for obstruction's sake. take yes for an answer. we have a good bipartisan bill. let's pass it. it's good for the country. stop filibustering this good bill. we made an agreement on keystone and democrats are willing to honor our commitment. but we need republicans to honor their commitments.

so let's use the second opportunity at passing this important bill, important bill, shaheen-portman, to get the senate working effectively and give working families, american families a fair shot at affordable energy. would the chair announce the business of the day? the presiding officer: under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. under the previous order, the senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30 p.m. with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

quorum call:

mr. tester: madam president, skilled that the quorum call be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. tester: as chairman of the committee on indian affairs, i rise in support of the nominations of three distinguished native american leaders, vince low began, keating harper, and diane humitiwa. these individuals have been nominated to positions that are crucial to indian country and to our nation. it is our responsibility to make sure that they can begin this challenging work. i think it is fair to say that no one in this chairman is happy about how the nominations have been handled. there are reasons and frusts f frustrations on both sides of the aisle, and i understand that. but in the case of these

nominees, it is long past time to act. and by acting on these nominees, this congress, which has been criticized for not doing very much, can make a little bit of history. vince logan's nomination was first sent to the senate in september of 2012. he is a member of the osage nation of oklahoma. and he was nominated to be special trustee for the american indians at the department of interior. this vote is long overdue. the position has been vacant for five years. the special trustee is charged with overseeing the department's fulfillment of its trust responsibilities to tribes and individual indians. it is a difficult job, and i'm confident that mr. logan is the right man to do it. it is a litigator with vast experience in both public and private sectors. he has also shown great passion for working with tribes and individual indians to manage their trust assets. mr. logan was unanimously

approved by the indian affairs comatcommittee in january and ie my colleagues in the senate to do the same. i would also like to spheek in support of keating haq happe ha, the president's nominee to be united states representative to the united nations human rights council. his nomination has been pending since early february. this is a history-making nomination. if confirmed, mr. harper would be the first member of a federally recognized tribe to hold the rank of united states ambassador. keith has outstanding academic and professional credentials, having spent many years representing indian tribes across the country. keith's nomination was first sent up here in june of 2013, and what message do we send to indian country and to the world when we allow endless delay on the nomination of a man who will be the first native american to hold the title of ambassador?

mr. happer's nomination has the strong support of the national congress of american indians and numerous tribes and tribal leaders throughout indian country. he has also been active in human and vieflts organizations and has served as delegate to the 2001 world conference against racism in durbin, south africa. all of these experiences have prepared him to tackle injustice at the global level. it is also important to confirm this position to ensure that the united states has a representative at the united nations world conference on indigenous people in september. finally, diane humitiwa was nominated to serve as district court judge with the strong support of her home state senators, senator mccain, and senator flake. her nomination was reported favorable by three months ago did i the judiciary committee and though her nomination has been pending since september of 2013, she is a member of the

hopi tribe of arizona. that means, if conferred, she would be the only native american serving as a if i had judge. and she would be the first native american woman to ever serve on the federal bench. confirming these nominees during a time of such partisanship will send a strong signal to indian country and whether it is overseeing our trust responsibilities, representing our nation to the world, or delivering justice, these nominees will help our government to function just a little bit better and more efficiently. i would ask my colleagues to join me in swiftly confirming these three outstanding nominees. with that, i yield the floor and i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: