mrs. shaheen: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from new hampshire. mrs. shaheen: thank you, mr. president. i ask that the quorum call be lifted. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. shaheen: mr. president i've come to the floor today like so many of our colleagues, to talk about the urgent need to pass legislation to extend unemployment insurance. i was encouraged, as i know many of us were, that the senate voted on monday to move to this legislation, and i really hope that we're able to build on that progress and to pass this critical assistance this week. emergency unemployment insurance has always had bipartisan support. congress has acted eight times since 1958 under congressional leadership and presidents from both parties to establish extended benefit programs when the unemployment rate is too high. and in fact, as i think a number of my colleagues have said, the program that we're currently looking to extend was actually passed when george w. bush was president with st

mrs. shaheen: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from new hampshire. mrs. shaheen: thank you very much to the esteemed chair of the appropriations committee for your kind words and especially for all of the work that you have done to get us to this point where we have an appropriations bill before us. i know you have worked very hard with ranking member shelby, with the house appropriations committee chair hal rogers and ranking member lowey, and that it is really your leadership in reaching an agreement on this bill to fund government for the rest of 2014 and to do it in a way that will support job creation, economic growth and our national security. so thank you very much madam chair. as you point out, i am a new member of the appropriations committee, i'm currently the chair of the labor subcommittee, and -- legislative -- legislative branch subcommittee. i work with senator hoeven, it's been a pleasure to work with him. for new hampshire this bill includes funding for the continued development of the new ck-46-a aerial refueling tanker which we're very p

mrs. shaheen: thank you very much. mr. nelson: would the senator yield, madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from florida. mr. nelson: i just want to take this opportunity, madam president, to thank the two senators present right the there. in america's space program that potentially was on a downward slope, the two of you-all have crafted a budget and appropriation that will keep us with a very robust american space program, including the first "a" in nasa, which is aeronautics. from science to the new big rocket, its cap actual, orion, to the commercial, -- capsule, orion, to the commercial, to the unmanned space program exploring the heavens, you-all have got it right and i wanted to take this opportunity to express my profound thanks that on the authorization that we built on starting three years ago, you-all are continuing the dream. thank you very much. ms. mikulski: well, i thank the gentleman from florida. it's just wonderful for both my colleague, senator shelby, and i to -- you're an astronaut senator. and to come from an astronaut senator to say,

mrs. shaheen: thank you mr. president. i just wanted to enter into the record that unfortunately i was not here to vote for janet yellen to head the federal reserve system. had i been able to be here, i would have voted to support her in that position. unfortunately, my flight was delayed, and so i did not get back in time for the vote, but i wanted to make sure that in the record it shows that i support her as the new chairman of the fed. thank you mr. president. i yield the floor. ms. warren: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from massachusetts. ms. warren: i was on the same flight as senator shaheen and also missed the vote. i had been looking forward to have the opportunity to vote for janet yellen to be the chair of the federal reserve and i'm very disappointed i didn't get to formally vote for her but i want to make sure that the record reflects my strong support for her. and i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: a senator: mr. president?

mr. president, could i ask who the sponsors of this legislation are? who is sponsoring it? the president pro tempore: it is sponsored by senators pryor, hagan, shaheen and begich. mr. reid: thank you. i would object to any further proceedings with respect to this bill. the president pro tempore: objection having been heard, the bill will be placed on the calendar. mr. reid: mr. president, i congratulate diane skarvalo on her retirement after 20 years of dedicated service as a senate curator. every day people across this country and we who work in this great building, including students on filled trips, dignitaries, staffers alike appreciate the historic treasures stored in the hallways of this capitol. these works of fine art and craftsmanship are symbols of our democracy and for two decades diane has been the steward of these treasures. i thank her for her dedication and wish her the best in her future endeavors. i ask consent a more complete statement be made part of the record as if given. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: mr. president, i'm gratified we were able to get enough votes to begin debate on the flood insurance bill.

me in supporting this commonsense approach and vote in favor of the shaheen amendment and not the ayotte amendment. i yield back. mr. menendez: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from new jersey. mr. menendez: madam president, i want to join my colleague from hawaii in her remarks and her opposition to the ayotte amendment, and i want to start off by simply saying that when we're talking about extending unemployment insurance benefits to americans who have played by the rules, done everything right through no fault of their own find themselves unemployed, many long-term unemployed and are trying to get a job but still despite an economy that is improving hasn't seen the job market increase significantly so they can achieve that job, what they need at this time is not a kick in the pants, they need a helping hand. so that they can sustain their families during this period of time and continue to be in a position to do which the law requires them, continue to look for a job and eventually find that job. so the reality is, is that this isn't an ideological battle, i hope, in a greater political war. i