just search paul ryan. we believe the last few minutes as the u.s. senate gavels in momentarily. flags across the capital and across the nation after the death of former president george h.w. bush. the senate considering measures to authorize that he lives dated the u.s. capitol rotunda and to authorize his coffin be held on the lincoln catapult years after the death of abraham lincoln. this is why the senate coverage on c-span2. the chaplain, dr. barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray. eternal god, we trust you. lead us in the paths that bring glory to your name. point us to the right road,

guiding us with your truth so that we will honor you with our lives. give our lawmakers gratitude for the work they do each day and for the opportunities to make a positive impact upon our nation and world. increase in their hearts the qualities of love, knowledge, and obedience, enabling our senators to grow daily in your likeness. and, lord, we praise you for the life and legacy of a gentle statesman, president george herbert walker bush. we pray in your sovereign name,

amen. the president pro tempore: please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to our 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: senate will receive a message from the president of the united states. the clerk: madam president, a message from the president of the united states. the presiding officer: madam clerk. the clerk: i am directed to deliver to the united states senate a message in writing. the presiding officer: the pledge will be received. -- the message will be received. mr. mcconnell: madam president? the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that the senate be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of s. con. res. 5, submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: the clerk will report.

the clerk: senate concurrent resolution 55, authorizing the use of the rotunda of the capitol for the lying in state of the remains of the late george herbert walker bush, 41st president of the united states. the presiding officer: there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of s. con. res. 66 submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: without objection. the clerk will report. the clerk: senate concurrent resolution 56, providing for the use of the catafalque situated in the exhibition hall of the capitol visitors' center in section with memorial services to be conducted in the rotunda of the capitol for the late george herbert walker bush, 41st president of the united states. the presiding officer: there objection to proceeding to the measure?

without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule 22, the cloture vote on the mack in a me nomination occur at 4:00 p.m. wednesday, december 5. i further ask consent that the congressional review period for the senate joint resolution 64 be extended until december 14. the presiding officer: without objection.

mr. mcconnell: on friday, the 42-year journey of george herbert walker bush came to a close. at once americans from all walks of life began paying tribute to this great patriot and giving thanks for his fearless heroism in wartime skies, for his dedicated, expert service at the highest levels of government, and one essential role after another. for his loving fatherhood of a great family. i'm not the first to observe that george bush seemed like the greatest generation distilled into a single life story. the immense contributions in both wartime and peacetime, the stunning bravery paired with quiet humility, the belief that

devotes service is not cause for special praise but simply each citizen's duty. the greatest generation achieved all american accomplishments and exhibited all-american virtues. it may be just that no one did that as fully as our 41st president. even in the ranks of this remarkable generation, he will stand out forever as one of its most especially remarkable sons. george bush was the best of the best. once after pearl harbor our future president celebrated his 18th birthday and high school graduation by enlisting in the navy. he was still a teenager when he got his wings. the youngest naval aviator. and he was only 20 on that

fateful day in september 1944. he was piloting one of four avenger bombers aiming to take out a japanese radio tower. his plane was hit. the engine caught fire, and the cockpit began filling with smoke. but george bush kept his steady hands on the controls, rather than turn tail, he and his crew went right on with their mission and only after he'd released the bombs that successfully damaged his target did he finally bail out over the pacific. with a steady hand on the controls. more worried about doing his duty for others than about himself. george bush stayed the course. according to one biographer, that was a key phrase for him. it concluded a list of core principles he once laid out in a letter to his mother. here's what he said.

tell the truth, don't blame people, be strong, do your best, try hard, forgive, and stay the course. year after year, post after post, george bush stayed the course. and he helped his country do the same. through the fog of war in the persian gulf when international order needed defending, america's commander in chief led just as steady as he had in that smoking cockpit almost 50 years earlier. and in between the pacific and the presidency, he steered us straight through countless challenges, as a congressman, ambassador to the united nations, envoy to china, c.i.a. director, and vice president.

serving capablely in just one 0 two of these posts would ensure any citizen's place in american history, but george bush served in all of them and always with excellence. on the home front, president bush wasiq a war -- president bush was a warrior for hope, optimism and opportunity. as president, he paved the way for education reform and signed legislation to give disabled americans a better shot. overseas, he was a talented diplomat and powerful champion of our interests. it was on his watch that the cold war finally ended. it freed people of europe from the shackles of communism. but president bush knew that america should not kick up our heels and enjoy a holiday from history. we fought and won the gulf war in order to make something perfectly clear to allies and

enemies alike. it had to be right and not might to fill the void. we needed, he said, a world where the rule of law supplants the rule of the jungle and his leadership moved us toward such a world. through global change, domestic turmoil, and economic transformation, whether in jobs that he had passionately sought out or in other assignments he dutifully accepted, george bush kept us on course. he wasn't a dramatic or revolutionary leader. he didn't advertise radical change. he never quite seemed at nome the spotlight -- at home in the spotlight. instead, he offered humility and a servant's heart. he aspired to govern his country well, preserve what was good, and improve things where possible. he wanted to keep us flying high and challenge us to fly a little

higher. and he led us, as he seemingly did everything in his life, with grace and kindness that seemed almost unbelievable given all that he'd accomplished. daring aviator, chief spy, wartime president. you'd think this must be a tough and gruffy guy. but it is the man's good cheer and generous spirit that stand out most of all in our national memory. he was a prolific hand writer of notes and letters. he freely changed his own plans to make life easier for his staff or for the secret service detail. i saw recently that some years after his presidency, he couldn't even bring himself to simply turn down a reporter's request for an interview without crafting a warm, apologetic,

full-page letter explaining his rationale. his decency and attentiveness to others was a credit to his upbringing, but it wasn't only habit; it was principle. this is a man who said this in his inaugural address. in our hearts, we know what matters. we cannot hope only to leave our children a bigger car, a bigger bank account. we must hope to give them a sense of what it means to be a loyal friend, a loving parent, a citizen who leaves his home, his neighborhood, and town better than he found it. looking beyond the day's doctor marks issuing a deep moral challenge, george bush set the bar high. and his country listened because we saw him meet those standards himself. george bush's gifts were many,

but some gifts were greater than others. george bush and barbara pierce met at a christmas party in 1941. he described her to his mother as the nistiest girl at the dance. weeks after he returned from the war, they were married. i've climbed perhaps the highest mountain in the world, he would write much later but even that cannot hand hold a candle to being barbara's husband. they had six children. their marriage weathered the challenges of the spotlight. in every chapter, george bush served as comforter and counselor. he cared for loved ones with a dedication that never ceased to amaze them. so much for the myth of the stamped episcopalian new

englander. george bush was so stoic. he developed his own teary-eyed reputation as the founding member of what the bush family calls the ball brigade -- that would bawl. he was considered, people thetic, and kind. and the bushes passed on these values to their children. they nurtured a family of leaders whose contributions have enriched this country even more. few men so powerful would have even thought to call for a kinder, gentler nation. even fewer could have lived it themselves. his words literally lifted our spirits. his example inspired us. a quarter century after george bush left the oval office, his legacy continues to directly inspire not just a thousand points of light but millions of

volunteers who serve others. so, madam president, in war and peace, in public and in private, in high office and in family moments, george bush stayed the course. the greatest generation indeed. the grand heroism that saved our nation. the quiet diligence that built it up, and the basic goodness that sustains it, all in one. today the united states senate joins the nation and the bush family in mourning and in prayer. we are also joined in gratitude. we're thankful that god gave this country george bush and barbara. thankful that they built such a loving family. and thankful they may now be reuniteed, their great love

story perfected in the light of his grace. mr. mcconnell: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2:30 p.m. tuesday, december 4. further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning business be deemed expired, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the senate be in a period of morning business with senators allowed to speak therein for up to ten minutes each for debate only. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: so if there is no further business to come before the senate, i ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order following the remarks of the democratic leader. the presiding officer: without objection.

mr. schumer: madam president. the presiding officer: the democratic leader. mr. schumer: are we in a quorum? the presiding officer: we are not in a quorum. mr. schumer: madam president, in a short time, we will all gather

before proceeding to the rotunda to honor the life of george herbert walker bush, the 41st president of the united states who passed away last friday. george h.w. bush will be greatly missed in many ways. he was undeniably dedicated to his country. from his time as a young meaf pilot through his long career in public service both elected and appointed as our ambassador to the u.n., envoy to china, director of the c.i.a. in a life that spanned ten decades, seven decades of george h.w. bush's life was spent in fateful and humble service to his country. although our careers intersected only briefly, i knew him to be a fine man, a decent man, and even when he opposed your views, you knew he was doing what he thought was best for the united states of america. he embodied the characteristics we admire in a president -- integrity, civility, dignity,

humility, and a sincere interest in bipartisanship. he valued public service and had respect for government as a noble force, a force for good. when he wanted to say something to someone, he would sit down to write them a handwritten and usually heartfelt note. he used the word friend often, and he meant it. his yearning for a kinder, gentler nation seems more needed now than when he first called for it. not all of his efforts will be celebrated, and of course that's true of every politician who has reached higher office, but as we look back at his life and career, it's clear that george h.w. bush cared deeply about more than this country and its eed eels. he cared -- ideals. he cared about its citizens, no matter their situation. his early involvement in the

ymca, his advocacy for americans with disability act, and his support for volunteerism and service throughout his career are testament to that fact. he called on americans to be a thousand points of light, and he was too modest to say that he and his wife barbara were two of the brightest. our hearts are with the bush family today. and, madam president, my heart is also heavy today at another loss. giles perkins, who is one of the top lawyers in birmingham, alabama, and former head of the alabama democratic party. he died of cancer over the weekend. he was a close friend and mentor of one of our friends here in the senate, senator doug jones, who fondly called him the yoda of his campaign. i talked to giles frequently. in fact, just a few days ago, and he was always filled with a

desire to do good, a desire that the right thing be done, and a desire to help his friends, doug jones at the top of the list. giles was a booster of many things alabama, and he'll sorely be missed by his family, his dear friend, the junior senator from alabama, the state he loved, and by me. madam president, i yield the floor. i yield the floor. the presiding officer: under the previous order, the senate stands adjourned until 2:30 tomorrow.announcer: washington l

continues.nnouncer: washington l host: joining us for a discussion on the weekend in washington he might join us now for a look at the weekend