mr. chandler. the chair: the gentleman from kentucky is recognized for five minutes. mr. chandler: thank you, madam chairman. i would first like to express my gratitude to our chairman, mr. dicks, who has provided tremendous leadership on this bill, tremendous leadership throughout the year on the interior appropriations bill. a bill that i believe is extremely important to the future of our country. i'd also like to thank our ranking member, mr. simpson, for the way that he has -- very bipartisan way conducted himself and the business of the committee. it's been a committee that has worked tremendously well together throughout the year. i want to rise to express my strong support for this bill. this bill is an extremely important one as i mentioned a moment ago. and i believe that we have had the opportunity this year as a result of our chairman's efforts to hear hundreds of witnesses in extensive hearings. i believe this is one of the most hardworking committees, subcommittees of the appropriations committee. we have discovered some very real needs across this country. w

mr. chandler of kentucky, chairman, mr. sir is, mr. clyburn of south carolina, mr. etheridge of north carolina, mr. bishop of new york, mr. pete try of wisconsin, mr. crenhaw and mr. aderholt and mr. latta of ohio. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to house resolution 578 and rule 18, the chair declares the house in the competent committee of the whole in the state of the union for consideration of h.r. 2996. the chair appoints the gentleman from virginia, mr. connolly to preside over the committee of the whole. the chair: house is in the committee of the whole on the state of the union for consideration of h.r. 2996, which the clerk will report by title. the clerk: a bill making appropriations for the department of interior, environment and related agencies for the fiscal year ending september 30, 2010 and for other purposes. the chair: the bill is considered read the first time. the gentleman from washington, mr. dicks, and the gentleman from idaho, mr. simpson, each will control 0 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from washington. mr. dicks: mr. chairma

mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 97, the nomination of hillary chandler tompkins to be the solicitor of the department of interior, that the nomination be confirmed, that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, that no further motions be in order, that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the record, that upon confirmation, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action and that the senate then resume legislative session. the presiding officer: is there objection? mrs. hutchison: mr. president, i do object. the presiding officer: the senator from texas is recognized. mrs. hutchison: i do object on behalf of the minority because they have not yet had time to clear on our side, but certainly we'll work with you going forward to be able to expedite this nomination. mr. bingaman: well, mr. president, let me just -- the presiding officer: objection is heard. mr. bingaman: -- comment briefly. i regret that objection has been raised again. this nomination was reported out of our energy and natural resources committee on th

mr. president, i wanted to propound a unanimous consent request. i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 97, the nomination of hilary chandler tompkins to be solicitor of the department of interior, that the nomination be confirmed, that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, that no further motions be in order, that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the record, that upon confirmation, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action and that the senate then resume legislative session. the presiding officer: is there objection? mr. cornyn: mr. president, reserving the right to object. the presiding officer: the senator from texas. mr. cornyn: with all due respect to my colleague from new mexico, i'm advised the nomination has not been cleared on this side. we're going to keep working on it, but at this time i must object, and i do object. the presiding officer: the objection is noted. mr. reid: mr. president? the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. reid: i know my friend, the distinguished senator from texas, wishes to speak for up to 20 minutes. is that right? we have a num