ms. landrieu: i object. mr. cornyn: i will proceed then under the standing order which gives me up to 10 minutes as i understand. the presiding officer: the senator's correct. mr. cornyn: i regret that the senator from louisiana is unwilling to cooperate and provide everyone a chance to be heard. i want to proceed. i want to speak to the nomination of senator -- of excuse me -- of jack mcconnell to the federal district bench. i spoke on this nomination yesterday. i've offered an op-ed piece in "the washington times" expressioning my concern. and i want to just summarize for my colleagues' benefit and consideration my concerns. i serve as a member of the judiciary committee as does the senator from iowa, senator grassley, and before the senate judiciary committee this nominee was asked about allegations of theft of corporate documents arising out of some lead paint litigation that his law firm was pursuing in the state of -- of rhode island. and that's been the subject of some discussion. i would like to ask unan

ms. landrieu: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from louisiana. ms. landrieu: i thank my colleague in alaska for asking me to join him in a general presentation and potentially a colloquy between the two of us about the importance of continuing our support for oil and gas production here in the united states by the large international companies that have operated in our country and around the world now for many years, as w well as by the hundreds if not thousands independents that operate doing the same. there is going to be a bill that's going to be debated in the senate finance committee tomorrow. it's s. 940, sponsored by the senator from nother, our colleague, senator menendez, that i want to go on record and stronstrong -- in strongly oppo. i am going to give some reasons why and would urge my colleagues from this bill comes up, which i understand it will directly to the floor of the senate, without being heard traditionally in the committee, that we would vote it down. i doubt that the bill in its current form or in/form that it can be modified c

ms. landrieu: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from louisiana. ms. landrieu: i thank my colleague in alaska for asking me to join him in a general presentation and potentially a colloquy between the two of us about the importance of continuing our support for oil and gas production here in the united states by the large international companies that have operated in our country and around the world now for many years, as w well as by the hundreds if not thousands independents that operate doing the same. there is going to be a bill that's going to be debated in the senate finance committee tomorrow. it's s. 940, sponsored by the senator from nother, our colleague, senator menendez, that i want to go on record and stronstrong -- in strongly oppo. i am going to give some reasons why and would urge my colleagues from this bill comes up, which i understand it will directly to the floor of the senate, without being heard traditionally in the committee, that we would vote it down. i doubt that the bill in its current form or in/form that it can be modified c

ms. landrieu: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from louisiana. ms. landrieu: i ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of the roll. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. landrieu: thank you, mr. president. i ask consent to speak for up to 15 minutes from time reserved on the majority side on this issue. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. landrieu: thank you, mr. president. this is a very important issue that we are debating today, and there are very different views about how we should proceed, and i rise to object to the menendez amendment or bill that's on the floor and urge my colleagues to vote "no," and i'd like to give at least five reasons why i don't think this bill is the right approach. it will not solve the problem of high prices at the pump, and why i think in many ways it's actually a waste of time to be taking a whole day on an issue that is not going to result in lower prices at the gas pump or in more domestic supply, which are two things that we really need to attempt to do sometime in the next short perio

ms. landrieu: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from louisiana. ms. landrieu: thank you, madam president. i'd like to speak for the next just few minutes as we're in morning business about the subject that has been before the senate now for over five weeks, in some ways unprecedented, that a bill of only 100 pages would actually take up five weeks of the senate's time. and, madam president, you know as a member of the small business committee how important, although only 100 pages and although only in law since 1982, this program is not just to the federal government but to the taxpayer that are relying on this to spend their money wisely on their behalf, and they're look to us to promote and extend the life of programs that actually work and return a great investment to them, particularly in these challenging budget times and economic times. and, madam president, this program which was created by senator warren rudman for the specific purpose of stimulating technological innovation, encouraging greater utilization of small businesses to meet federal r

ms. landrieu: thank you. thank you for answering my question. i will submit many more things for the record. but i will close. we are now over ten minutes extended for the vote. i will please ask the senate to consider voting for the sbir program. if we don't, it will expire on may 31 this year. ms. landrieu: i would suggest a quorum call. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from rhode island. mr. reed: i would ask dispensing of the call of the quorum. i have nine unanimous consents for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. i ask that these requests be agreed to and that these requests be printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reed: mr. president, i would ask the call of the quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: mr. mcconnell: mr. president? the presiding officer: the republican leader. mr. mcconnell: i suggest that the quorum be dispensed with. the presiding officer: with

ms. landrieu: thank you, madam president. i rise to make a few brief remarks about the fact that this week we're celebrating charter school week in america and in the united states senate. i'm pleased to join my colleague, lamar alexander, in cosponsoring this amendment that i hope will be hotlined tonight, and that means passed unanimously without need to bring it to the floor for debate because there are so many members of our senate, both democrats and republicans, that recognize the value of high quality charter schools and the difference that they are making in the advancement of education reform and extraordinary achievements being reached by students and teachers and communities because of them. i'd like to just have a brief statement on the floor and then share some interesting and really exciting statistics from my own experience in the city of new orleans, which is the city that has the highest percentage of children in charter schools in america today. as a parent of two precious and delightful children, i know fir