senate proceed to executive session for consideration of calendar number 167, the nomination of susan bodine to be assistant administrator of e.p.a. i further ask that there be 30 minutes of debate on nominations equally divided in the usual form and that following the use or yielding back of time, the senate vote on confirmation with no intervening action or debate and if confirmed the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, and the president be immediately notified of the senate's action. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. grassley: i ask unanimous consent that when the senate complete its business today it adjourn until 10:00 a.m. thursday, december 7. further following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour deemed expired, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day. further, following leader remarks, the senate be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each until 11:00 a.m. i further ask that at 11:00 a.m. senator st

i can think of no better candidate for this job than susan bodine. thank you, mr. president. i yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: quorum call: mrs. fischer: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from nebraska. mrs. fischer: mr. president, are we in a quorum call? the presiding officer: we are. mrs. fischer: i ask that it be vitiated, please. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. fischer: mr. president, i rise today to talk about my support for the senate tax reform bill and to encourage congress to help american families. our economy and our workforce have changed over the last few decades and our tax code must catch up. if we want to build a better future for our children, we must tackle problems for families juggling responsibilities between their homes and their workplaces. we have a chance to make history here. the senate-passed bill included my strong families act which would be the first nationwide paid family leave policy passed by this body. this proposal h