they basically changed the rules of the senate by breaking the rules of the senate. what he did was called by the parliamentarian a violation of senate rules. he appealed the chair, the ruling of the chair, and overturned it with 51 votes. what they did substantively was to lower the threshold for the elections of the judiciary except for the supreme court to 51. thatore importantly than was how they did it. that precedent will always be there. bell, and to unring a i think it was very damaging to the institution, which leads to probably what you would like me to respond to, which i am not going to do today, which is what would we do about that were we in the majority, and my advice to call links is that that is a discussion for december if we're fortunate enough to be given by the american people the opportunity to set the agenda in the senate. then we will address that question, but your question was about legislation, i assume, not about executive branch appointment. i do not favor turning the senate into that type of though wen, even would probably have some short

and the rules of the senate and the procedures of the senate. and whether it was republican or democrat, liberal or conservative, no one was a greater defender of the traditions of the senate, allowing full and open debate than robert byrd. i had many disagreements with robert byrd but great respect for his respect for this institution. we don't see that today. there is no robert byrd here. there's no one standing up on the other side saying, "wait a minute, this is not what we're here for." the procedures that the majority leader has undertaken affect democrats as well as republica republicans. i know many of my friends across the aisle, some of them are cosponsors of some of the legislation and proposals that i've made and amendment proposals i've made. they're not allowed to offer their amendments either. we are frozen out by someone who has taken a dictatorial position, saying it's my way or the highway. we see that on foreign policy enacted now coming out of russia with vladimir putin. but that's not what the united states is about. that's n

the president pro tempore: the senate will come to order. the chaplain retired admiral barry black will lead the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray. eternal god, ruler of all nations, hasten the day when the government shall be on your shoulders. bring an end to sin, injustice, corruption, violence and immorality in our nation and world. use our lawmakers to do what is best rewarding their faithfulness with a bountiful harvest. lord, do for them. immeasurably, abundantly, above all that they can ask or imagine, according to your power working in and through them. may the whisper of your wisdom fill our senators with peace, power and praise. lord, infuse them with confidence in the ultimate triumph of your purposes. we pray in your righteous name. amen. the president pro tempore: please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the 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 president pro t

the motion is agreed to. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from oregon. mr. wyden: mr. president, i just wanted to take a couple of minutes now to underscore the importance of the senate passing the expire act now. and in particular to highlight what the cost of inaction would be if the senate fails to act. this legislation is critically needed because it is an essential tool to prevent a tax increase, and particularly the kind of tax increase that will harm our ability to create more good-paying jobs, high-skill, high-wage jobs, the jobs tied to innovation. because without this legislation, for example, mr. president, in effect what we'd have is a new tax on innovation because we wouldn't renew for a period of two years, as we work on tax reform, the research and development credit. and this credit is absolutely essential because it's what's used by the employers. and the employers who are coming up with the innovative approaches that will create more long-term employment for our country, this credit in effect is used to help pay the wages for those kinds

the roll. quorum call: a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from mississippi. mr. wicker: i understand we're in a quorum call. if so, i ask unanimous consent that it be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. wicker: and, madam president, i sorrowfully rise this morning to take note of the sad state to which this great deliberative body has fallen. and i do so reluctantly because i must specifically criticize the majority leader of the united states senate for really bringing this body to what many historians observe is a new low in terms of our ability to move legislation, our ability to have open debate and open amendments in the senate. we see what has become a new normal in the united states senate. earlier this week, a bipartisan and popular piece of legislation on energy efficiency was derailed by the majority leader's resistance to the open amendment process, and certainly it is not only members of my party, it is not only persons on my side of the aisle who have concluded this. there was a very scathing opinion piece on the editorial pa

and the women of the senate, the democratic women of the senate, are ready to fight the republicans to make sure that women across this country have their fair shot. i want to thank senator murray for her leadership in fighting for real economic equality for women. i yield, mr. president. mrs. murray: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from washington. mrs. murray: mr. president, i want to thank the senator from massachusetts again for all of her extremely hard work, important work to expand economic opportunity and security for women and their families. she is an extremely important voice in this debate, and i am delighted that she is here today to join us. mr. president, yesterday i held a hearing on this topic in the senate budget committee.

we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate hereby move to bring to a close the debate on the nomination of mark g. mastroianni of massachusetts to be united states district judge for the district of massachusetts signed by 17 senators as follows. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent the reading of the names be necessary. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: i ask consent the mandatory quorum under rule 22 be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: i now move to proceed to legislative session. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all those in favor say aye. all those opposed, no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. and the motion is agreed to. mr. reid: i now ask, madam president, that we move to executive session to consider calendar number 692. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all those in favor say aye. all those opposed, no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: bruce ho

that's not the way the senate used to operate and that's not the way the senate should operate and i hope not the way the senate will operate starting next year. now, mr. president, on another matter, the majority leader, as i just indicated, is basically shutting down the voice of the people here in the senate. that is the people that are represented by 45 of us. for seven long years he's refused to allow a truly comprehensive debate on energy in this chamber. we haven't had a comprehensive debate since 2007. he had a chance to change that yesterday. dozens of senators asked him to do it. we know the american people want us to do it, but he refused. apparently he doesn't think the american people deserve a vote on a single energy amendment. apparently he doesn't think the american middle class, which is being squeezed by rising energy costs and over-the- top government regulations, needs the kind of relief republicans are proposing. and he clearly must not think the people of eastern kentucky deserve our help either. kentuckians in the eastern part of my state are spaoerpbgs -- exper

on the senate floor. and then every senator gets to partnership, whether they know very much about the topic or not. hopefully, all of us get to be smart pretty quick when it comes -- when a bill comes to the floor because that's our chance to have a say on behalf of our constituents whether we're in the majority or in the minority. we don't have a right to win, the minority doesn't, but we do have a right to a voice and a vote and to partnership in the legislative process, which is what's been denied under the current majority leader. well, more than a decade later after i got here to the senate, i hardly recognize the united states senate. it's so dramatically different. indeed, in some ways it's diametrically opposite what it was when i got here and, frankly, the way the senate has operated for a couple hundred years since the founding of our country. only in the last rue few years under the current majority leader has the senate become completely dysfunctional and when the majority leader becomes in es

the senator from vermont. the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. mr. leahy: mr. president, next week we're going to exem rate national police week. it is a time when the nation pays tribute to the sacrifices made by all those who serve in law enforcement, particularly -- i wonder if we might have order, mr. president. the presiding officer: the senate will be in order. the senate will be in order. please remove your conversations from the well of the senate. mr. leahy: thank you, mr. president. i will be talking about those officers who've lost their lives in the line of duty. these law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to protect our communities. we often speak eloquently on both sides of the aisle here about supporting law enforcement and their families. these tributes are one. they're well-deserved. but the police officers in our communities deserve more than speeches. they ze deserve action and real support. we owe to it to all who serve to help protect those who protect us. one way to do so is to provide them life-saving bulletproof vests. for m

the senator from kentucky. mr. paul: i rise today to oppose the nomination of anyone who advocates for the executive branch killing american citizens not involved in combat without trial. i strongly believe that any nominee who rubber stamps and grants such power to the president is not worthy of being placed one step away from the supreme court. it isn't about seeing the memos, it's about what they say and how they disrespect the bill of rights. due process can't exist in secret. checks and balances can't exist in one branch of government. whether it be upon the advice of one lawyer or 10,000 lawyers, if they all work for one man, the president, how can that be anything but a verdict outside the law? a verdict that could conceivably be subject to the emotions of prejudice and fear, a verdict that could be wrong. the nomination before us is about a nominee who supports killing american citizens not engaged in combat without a trial. these memos don't limit drone executions to one individual, they become historic pre

i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from south dakota. mr. thune: i ask for 30 seconds for a unanimous consent request. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. thune: i understand there are a number of amendments that have -- number of senators that have filed amendments related to the energy policy. i ask unanimous consent for me to offer amendment number 3013. the presiding officer: is there objection? objection is heard. mr. thune: parliamentary, inquiry, mr. president? is it correct no senator is permitted to offer amendments to this bill while the majority leader's motions and amendments are pending? the presiding officer: the senator is correct. there is no place for another amendment on the senate's amendment tree. mr. thune: in order to move amendment number 3013 i move to table the reid amendment 3023 and i ask for the yeas and nays. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second? mr. durbin: parliamentary, mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from illinois. mr. durbin: is a unanimous consent request necess

the senator from delaware. mr. coons: i ask unanimous consent to yield back all remaining time on both sides. the presiding officer: without objection. the question occurs on the franken nomination. all in favor say aye. all those opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the nomination is confirmed. under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table. the president will be immediately notified of the senate's action, and the senate will resume legislative session. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from texas. mr. cornyn: madam president, i wanted to speak briefly on three topics this afternoon. human trafficking, the terrorist attack at fort hood, texas in 2009 and finally on the way that the senate has become a killing ground for good ideas because of the practices of the majority leader. starting with human trafficking, we know that while slavery was formally abolished in the united states years ago, it continues today i

that is what serves the american people best. senator reid is indicating the amendments that have already been negotiated on the energy efficiency bill are the ones that will take up, not additional amendments or open projects. we will proceed. >> is there a possibility the energy efficiency, broader energy efficiency amendment process, if it does not go forward, that republican senators may oppose to limit debate and then term -- turn to the keystone matter despite the energy bill not passing? >> went -- whether the bill will pass i think is impart on whether there is some willingness to allow reasonable amendments and a reasonable process. that may well determine the fate of the energy efficiency. i have got amendments in that bill and i think they are very good. you've have got to get some open process. i believe either way we will then proceed to keystone xl. that has been what we have been able to in essence force. senators on the legislation put together. >> with this at all the issues you deal with, how would you assess his leader

the roll. quorum call: a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from delaware. mr. coons: madam president, i ask proceedings under the quorum call be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. coons: madam president, i come to the floor today to speak about the corrupting power of money in our national politics and the tragic impact of a whole series of decisions by the supreme court that has steadily strengthened that power. madam president, over the last 40 years bipartisan coalitions in this body, bipartisan coalitions in congress have come together behind commonsense measures that actually succeeded in limiting the power of money in politics. most recently back in 2002 a bipartisan coalition in this chamber led by senators john mccain and russ feingold, republican and democrat respectively, took a few steps to significantly limit the use of so-called soft money and to ban special interests from pouring money into national elections in the month or two before election day. as actually elected representatives the perspective of members of congress who

the process of doing conferences, house and senate. most members of the house have never seen such a thing. we have not done this in years. but it's the right way to do it. you know, the number we're marking to in the house and the identical to ost fiscal 2014. that will help us along trying to reach final agreement with the senate on numbers with each ill. we got an early start. we got a common goal. to pass 12 bills on time. and we've got this determination to get the appropriations train back on track, get back to regular order. i think we will make it. you know, there will be bumps along the way. that is the process. we are not going to have unanimity on hardly anything. that is the way this place is. >> you have always had some difficulty in getting some of the more junior, very conservative republicans to vote for anything. so you've had to look to democrats. are you confident that when they get to the troublesome difficult ills, like the bill that funds the implementation of the affordable care act, that you will be able to get t

the senator from florida is right. it passed with very strong support in the house, and in my view, a similar bill containing some of the salient provisions in the house will pass the senate. but it is important that that bill be discussed. and i will tell you, madam president, that one of the concerns that i have is i do not want to see the v.a. politicized. it is one thing to say -- which i agree with -- that if a hospital administrator is incompetent, the secretary should be able to get rid of that administrator without a whole lot of paperwork. i agree with that. it is another thing to say that if a new administration comes in, whether it is a democratic or republican, that somebody sitting in the secretary's office can say, i want to get rid of 20 or 30 or 50 hospital administrators because we have other people that we have in there, and we can just get rid of them, and they don't have a rate to defending themselves. i -- and they don't have a right to defend themselves. i worry about that. so clearly we have to di

the roll. quorum call: a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from kansas. mr. moran: i ask unanimous consent the quorum call be lifted. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. moran: mr. p -- mr. moran: mr. president, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here. i want to add my voice to others who have paid tribute to daryl chappelle who retires today after 42 years of work in the united states senate. i can tell you in the time i've been here, i look forward to running into daryl as i make my trip back and forth between the us are ells building and the capitol floor. there are people who just brighten your day. on every occasion that i have encountered daryl during the work darks it has just been that experience. so i fraibt to of an individual that i -- so i pay tribute to an individual that i don't know personally, his background, his family. it is a sad thing about the nature of today's busy world in which we don't know people like -- i certain will i do back hom, but i will tell you that the opportunity to deal, to be with and to experience th

and the women of the senate, the democratic women of the senate, are ready to fight the republicans to make sure that women across this country have their fair shot. i want to thank senator murray for her leadership in fighting for real economic equality for women. i yield, mr. president. mrs. murray: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from washington. mrs. murray: mr. president, i want to thank the senator from massachusetts again for all of her extremely hard work, important work to expand economic opportunity and security for women and their families. she is an extremely important voice in this debate, and i am delighted that she is here today to join us. mr. president, yesterday i held a hearing on this topic in the senate budget committee. we invited a working mother. her name was ann marie duchon to come and testify about some of the challenges she had faced. ann marie told us that she loves her job. she works at the university of massachusetts-amherst, but since the day that she started, the day she started she made a lower salary than her male counterpart who is

a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from alaska is recognized. mr. begich: i ask permission to speak as if in morning business to talk about one issue, i.r.s. overreach. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. begich: before i do that, i do want to say to my friend who just spoke on the floor, i'm one of those who loves biennial budgets. i think it's a great idea and one we should continue to work toward. we get a little longer planning horizon. mr. president, i come down to the floor because there has been a lot of talk recently in different areas about the i.r.s. and virtually none of it is good. let me be clear, the i.r.s. going after taxpayers for debts allegedly incurred by their dead relatives is shocking. tax delinquent employees at the i.r.s. getting performance bonuses is offensive. targeting individuals or groups for their political beliefs is unacceptable. but today i want to talk about a different issue -- vital industry in my state crushed by overbearing i.r.s. enforcement of their own incomprehensible regulations. folks

i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from connecticut. mr. murphy: thank you, mr. president. i hope that the presiding officer had a great mother's day. i hope that senator klobuchar had a wonderful mother's day, got a phone call from her daughter in new haven, connecticut. i'm here today to tell the story of three pretty heroic mothers who are representative of far too many with similar stories across the country. i want to tell you very quickly this afternoon about wiycox sally, mary jelatty. all three of them are no longer with us, they are among the 31,672 victims of gun violence a year, 2,639 deaths a month, 86 people a day are killed by guns all across this country. i want to try to lend the voices to a few of these victims tonight, mothers, who were killed by their intimate partners, by their spouses in an act of domestic violence that frankly could have been prevented if not for the law of this land. first, the story of gwen cox salary. -- sally. gwen was killed two days after she finally took out a restraining order against her hu

here in the senate, the majority leader has allowed us nine. e amendments, roll call amendments from senate republicans since july. let me put a finer point on that. democrats in the house have received more than twice as many roll call votes on energy-related amendments alone as we have received on all amendments since july. that's not the way this body was meant to function. it's disrespectful to the millions of american citizens represented on the republican side of the aisle. they deserve a chance to be heard. the way the senate operates these days is a travesty. no real debate, no amendments, no respect for the millions of americans represented by the minority party. it's become an arm of the democratic senatorial campaign committee. we owe the american people so much more than that. it's time to focus on the middle class again, to let go of the obsession with the far left and the next election. it's time for the senate to be the senate again. the presiding officer: under the previous order -- mr. mcconnell: i still have the floor, mr. pres

the senate should do the same. my second amendment, 2992, which i teamed up with my friend from montana, senator jon tester to craft this piece of, this legislation, it's an initiative we've been working on for many years. the public lands renewable energy development act is a strong bipartisan proposal that helps create jobs, progress towards energy independence and preserves our nation's natural wonders by spurring renewable energy development on public lands. in nevada, we need jobs. not policies that make job creation more difficult. energy is one of our state's greatest assets, and i believe that continuing to develop renewable and alternative resources are important for nevada's economic future. geothermal and solar production in my state is an integral part of the united states all-of-the-above energy strategy. in fact, my home state of nevada is often called the saudi arabia of geothermal. our nation's public lands can play a critical role in that mission but uncertainty in the process impedes or delays our

floor of the united states senate. he decided that he would target me and blame me for the things he believes are failures of the entire house of representatives . here are some of the quotes chuck schume called me, an extreme outlier on the issue of immigration reform, closed quote. i would direct chuck schumer to the republican platform, you'll find there language in the republican platform that supports the position that i held on immigration. and that's this, we need to respect the rule, we need to secure or borders, we need to have an immigration policy that's designed to enhance the economic, the social and the cultural well-being of the united states of america. it can't be for the democratic party in america because they are so closely aligned and in fact they have enveloped the entire progressive party, the progressive party comes to this floor on a regular basis and gives speeches and presents their position. their position could at one time be found on the democratic ocialist of america's website. dsausa.org.

the same time? >> i think a lot of senators are involved in a variety of things. right now, energy is such a big issue for the country because we truly have an amazing opportunity. within a short window, we could be energy secure or energy independent, which means we produce more than we consume. energy is a foundational industry for all the other pipes of businesses it an industry to grow as part of a strong economy. it is also very much a national security issue right now. what is going on in eastern europe and russia and the ukraine and eu, part of developing a united front with dealingpean union and with the ukraine and russian aggression is the energy piece. they are so dependent right now on russia for the energy. look at the middle east and our andlvement in iraq afghanistan and our dependence still on oil for the middle east. that is a national security issue. we have a real chance to break the chains of energy from interests different from our own. we need to seize it. look at what is going on in my state of north dakota. unemployment,west and the fastest-

today, the senate recess until 6:30 p.m. tonight for the purpose of an all-senators briefing. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. mr. reid: mr. president, i have had a number of titles, as all we senators have over the years, but the title that has meant the most to me has always been dad, father. it's so important that my five children recognize me as their dad. my oldest child is a daughter, lana, but i also have 12 granddaughters. as a father and a grandfather, i can't imagine the horror of having one of these girls abducted, kidnapped, stolen. even though nigeria is thousands of miles away from where we sit today, my nightmare, our nightmare -- we're always worrying about our girls. -- is a reality in nigeria. on the night of april 14, more than 250 girls -- i don't know the exact number -- were stolen from a school by a terrorist group called boko haram. these kidnappers, a cowardly group of men, of thugs and terrorists, announced their intention to sell the girls in the marketplace. it was only yesterday the leader of this organization was on tel

now live to the senate floor on c-span2. the president pro tempore: the senate will come to order. the chaplain, dr. barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray. creator, redeemer, sustainer, you called us out of darkness into your marvelous light. dispel the shadows of confusion in our lives, replacing them with your clarity and peace. what we don't know, teach us. what we can't see, show us. what we don't have, give us. what we aren't, make us. abide with our senators in their labors, using them as vessels for your service. lord, keep them on the path of integrity, strengthened and sustained by your grace. bless and keep them. make your face shine upon them and be gracious to them. lift the light of your countenance upon them and give them your peace. we pray in your great name. amen. the president pro tempore: please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance. 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. mr. reid: mr. presid

the u.s. senate's about to return to session the afternoon. this morning senators voted to advance a bill that would provide incentives for energy efficient manufacturing and promote energy savings in buildings. party leaders also working toward a measure that would require approval of the keystone xl pipeline project. senators will be returning this afternoon after having the official photograph of the 113th congress taken this afternoon. we'll have live coverage when they return, should be just a couple of moments here on c-span2. while we wait for more senate action, the senate republican and democratic leaders, mitch mcconnell and harry reid, debated the bath forward on providing incentives for promoting energy savings. senator mcconnell expressed frustration at his party's inability to offer a package of amendments that would limit epa regulations, and senator reid responded that the number of bipartisan amendments have already been attached to the bill. those remarks happened at the start of today's session. here's some of what today had

as far as the senate goes we have had the u.s. senate select committee on intelligence issue a report january 15th, 2014. i think it did a very good job covering airline. they did not have jurisdiction over the state department, so their report was limited. there was a minority report and saw the report by republicans taking some issue with some of the findings of the bottom line was the senate until committee in a bipartisan fashion look at benghazi and said that it could have been presented by prevented. that is something to be positive about. the armed services committee, they have done nothing. we have not issued any report. this is the report looking at the department of defense responsibility. looking at the state department behavior that night. we have had hearings, but the relevant committees have not issued reports. the homeland security committee in september 30th 2012, they did a good job talking about homeland security role in benghazi. a very good report, but a lot has happened since then. i want people in the country

vote: the presiding officer: any senators wishing to cast their vote? the yeas are 45, the nays are 52. the motion is not agreed to. mr. barrasso: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from wyoming is recognized. the senate will be in order. take your conversations out of the chamber. mr. barrasso: parliamentary inquiry. is it correct that no -- the presiding officer: the senator cannot be heard. the senate will be in order. mr. barrasso: mr. president, parliamentary inquiry. is it correct that no senator is permitted to offer an amendment to this bill while the majority leader's amendment or motions are pending? the presiding officer: at this time, there is no place for other amendments on the senator's amendment tree, so that is correct. mr. barrasso: i move to table the reed amendment number 3025, and i ask for the yeas and nays. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second? there appears to be. the clerk will call the roll. vote: vote: vote: the presiding officer: any senators wishing to cast their votes? the ayes are 45. the nays

that is the job of the united states senator. [applause] it is making sure the boilermaker in eastern kentucky who cannot put their suitcase in a yard sale because they've -- they might need it to go find work has a way forward. the mother of a six-month-old who does not know how she is going to be able to provide for her young daughter because of a 16 day government shutdown that mitch mcconnell caused who are at the forefront of the election. make no mistake, there is no silver bullet that will solve all of our economic woes, but it is about two things. one i'm having a senator that believes it is their job to help grow the middle class and put kentuckians back to work. and two, a senator that has a plan to get out there. it is about doing the right thing over a sufficient amount of time with the proper investment. kentuckians, together we will get there. let me tell you, this election comes down to one thing. if you think that washington is working for you, that they are in touch with you and your family, that the last six year

the roll. quorum call: a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from wyoming. mr. enzi: i would ask that the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. enzi: madam president? the presiding officer: please proceed. mr. enzi: thank you. i would like to rise to offer an amendment to s. 2262 that would prevent the environmental protection agency from a massive regulatory outreach. i understand that under the current procedure that we're not allowed to do that, but i'm going to go ahead and explain it so that when i can bring this amendment up, people will already know about it and join me in voting for it. it's similar to an amendment offered last september to the energy efficiency bill. unfortunately, the senate majority leader blocked amendments from being considered, and i'm hoping that doesn't happen this time. my amendment is simple and straightforward. it promotes the right of each state to deal with its own problems. it returns the regulation to regional haez -- haze where it belongs, in the hands of state officials who are more famil

the senate use d.o.d used to do. the majority would control the agenda, would decide what's on the floor and that's fair enough. but then once the majority leader would decide what bill is on the the floor, then it would be open for debate, until essentially the body exhausted itself and members were finished offering amendments, and then you'd have a final passage vote. no such thing -- nothing even remotely similar to that is happening today. now, i know a number of my colleagues, including the distinguished senator who is in the chair at the moment, have served in the house. it's unbelievable to me that now for an extended period of time the house is having much more robust debate and far more amendment votes by both the majority and the minority party than we're permitted to even consider in the senate. this is a sorry state of affairs. seven years since the last debate on energy policy. an energy efficiency bill comes to the floor, and energy efficiency amendments are not permitted to have a discussion or a vote.

control of the senate is what we are talking about. i do not know how the different parties over there will see their role in appropriations bills this year. knowr one, i do not anything about the senatorial elections. i have no idea what goes through minds.'sm is i cannot predict anything. >> don't you think if the republicans were to take back the senate you have a choice? and tenure the pat the bar on now and wrapped everything up this year or pump it into next her and get yourself the prospect of an early five -- the and get yourself prospect of an early fight with the president. you know the president usually does pretty well in the fights. what is your view in that situation? would you like to wrap things up vision much or what? >> absolutely. the fact that we're dealing with the same number in the house and that they are almost identical from fiscal 14, that is a leg up. anddifferences between 14 15 on each bill is going to be fairly small. that i think will give us a little bit of an edge. i just do not know what the positions o

the roll. quorum call: a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from kentucky. mr. paul: i ask unanimous consent that we succes suspend e quorum call. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. paul: mr. president, it is often said that foreign aid from america is to project american power, to project the things that america believes in. unfortunately, over decades, the only thing consistent about foreign aid is that the money continues to flow, regardless of the behavior of the recipients. this is extraordinary, and we have seen this decade after decade. studies will show often that 75% of foreign aid throughout many continents is simply stolen, taken in graft. the mubarak family in egypt is an eangs example of this. the point that i would like to make today is if we are going to project what america stands for, that if we want our money to go to people who are supporting activities that america is for, we should write that into the law. now, we've made attempts at this in the past. senator leahy several years ago attached to foreign aid an amendment that says th

. >> the u.s. senate is about to gavel in for legislative business, general speeches for most of the day today, lawmakers will take a break between 12:30 and 2:15 eastern said democratic senators can attend the weekly party lunges at 5:30 eastern. vote set for judicial and executive nominations. now live to the senate floor on c-span2. senate will come to order. the chaplain, dr. barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray. god of grace and glory, descend upon us today. make capitol hill a place that honors your name, as our lawmakers depend on your might and power to keep america strong. lord, help our senators to remember that laudable progress comes not by might or power but through your spirit. give them the wisdom to seek your guidance for every critical decision, as you infuse them with the courage to obey your commands. as they seek to do what is best for america, be for them a shield and sure defense. may they ask the right questions as they labor to keep liberty's lamp.

and that the senate recess at 12:30 p.m. subject to the call of the chair to allow for the weekly caucus meetings and the official photograph of the 113th congress. and if cloture is invoked on the motion to proceed to s. 2262, the time during the recess count postcloture. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. merkley: there will be a roll call vote at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow. additionally, the official photograph of 113th congress will be at 2:15 p.m. tomorrow. if there is no further business to come before the senate, i ask that it adjourn under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate stands adjourned until senate stands adjourned until >> working again broadband plan to if you take that 150 number the incentive option and the age blog you need to figure out what comes next in the 2018/2019/2028 toronto and identify the spectrum needs to start right now. reference the cisco projections, they are staggering. cisco projects that between now and 2018 the demand for mobile wireless will increase eightfold if y

>>> this week on "the journal editorial report" -- harry reid's senate blockade. an unprecedented crackdown. can the gop fight back? plus, former treasury secretary tim geithner out with a new book defending his role in the bank bailout. is his history accurate? and new jersey governor chris christie saying a 2016 run is still very much on the table. but bridgegate may the least of his problems as the garden state finances take a turn for the worse. >>> welcome to "the journal editorial report." i'm paul gigot. washington doesn't work. that was president obama's message at a high dollar fund-raiser in manhattan this week where he told attendees we have a party on the other side that has been captured by ideology that says no to everything. if the president wants to get to the true root of gridlock in washington, he may also want to look at the democratic controlled senate where harry reid shut down debate refusing to allow a vote on all but nine, that's right, nine republican amendments since last july. topic several bipartisan -- stopping several bipartisan bills

warren: i want to thank the senator. it starts with the premise that the federal government, once upon a time, lent money to our students. you remember the ndea loans that went ought at 3%. the federal governments was disubsubsidizing those loans. where we've ended up today is that instead of there we've got students with outstanding student loan debt at 6%, at 7%, at 8%, 9%, and even higher. so this isn't just to cover the cost of the loans. this is double in some cases what it takes triple in some cases what it takes to cover the cost of the loans. that means the administrative costs, the bad debt costs the costs of the money borrowing the money. so what we propose is to say last summer congress said, you know, we were looking at new student loans that were coming through. the interest rates were about to double. and congress said, democrats and republicans, the interest rate -- if the interest rate doubles up to 7%, that's too high. so congress said, for all new borrows in 2013, the interest rate would be 3.86% on unde

reid: i ask consent the senate proceed to s. res. 421. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 381, senate resolution 421 expressing the gratitude and appreciation of the senate for the acts of heroism and military achievement by members of the united states armed forces who participated in the june 6, 1944 amphibious landing at normandy, france and commending them for leadership and valor in an operation that helped bring an end to world war ii. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: i ask consent the judiciary committee be discharged from further consideration of s. res. 444. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 445 recognizing the importance of cancer research and so forth. the presiding

the presiding officer: the senator from texas. mr. cruz: madam president, i rise to discuss the nomination of mr. david barron to be a federal court of appeals judge. i want to commend my friend, senator rand paul, for his excellent remarks earlier today and his leadership against mr. barron's nomination. i have known mr. barron a long time. he and i were classmates in law school. he is a smart man. he is a talented man. he is a professor at the harvard law school, and a well-respected professor, but mr. barron is an unabashed judicial activist. he is an unapologetic and vocal advocate for judges applying liberal policy from the bench and disregarding the terms of the constitution and the laws of the land. if the members of this body vote to confirm him, we will bear responsibility for undermining liberty and undermining rule of law in this country. it is well known that mr. barron is a senior official in the obama justice department authored memos allowing the united states government to use drones to kill american citizens abroad who

let's talk about the senate right now. kentucky/georgia senate races are so important to democrats. right now democrats have 55 seats in the senate there are 12 states with competitive senate races this november. and 10 of them. see them there on the mark. the map in blue. democrats are playing defense. in other word, democrats in the seats now. they got to hold them. republicans need a again of six seats to take over the senate. to make it 51 for them. already, three states, montana, south dakota, west virginia. look to be easy pickups. nothing is for sure. republicans will need to net another three of the remaining nine states. kentucky/georgia in the red on the map are the only states where democrats have a chance to pick up a republican held seat. joining me is nbc news political director, chuck todd. chuck, i keep thinking this is precarious for the democrats. if they lose, they lose control. they need to lose three more out of, what, nine possibilities. anything is possible. and keeping control of the senate, after no

let's talk about the senate right now. the kentucky/georgia senate races are so important to democrats. right now democrats have 55 seats in the senate there are 12 states with competitive senate races this november. and 10 of them. see them there on the mark. the map in blue. democrats are playing defense. in other word, democrats in the seats now. they got to hold them. republicans need a again of six seats to take over the senate. to make it 51 for them. already, three states, montana, south dakota, west virginia. look to be easy pickups. nothing is for sure. republicans will need to net another three of the remaining nine states. kentucky/georgia in the red on the map are the only states where democrats have a chance to pick up a republican held seat. joining me is nbc news political director, chuck todd. chuck, i keep thinking this is precarious for the democrats. if they lose, they lose control. they need to lose three more out of, what, nine possibilities. anything is possible. and keeping control of the senate, afte

the senator from florida is right. it passed with very strong support in the house, and in my view, a similar bill containing some of the salient provisions in the house will pass the senate. but it is important that that bill be discussed. and i will tell you, madam president, that one of the concerns that i have is i do not want to see the v.a. politicized. it is one thing to say -- which i agree with -- that if a hospital administrator is incompetent, the secretary should be able to get rid of that administrator without a whole lot of paperwork. i agree with that. it is another thing to say that if a new administration comes in, whether it is a democratic or republican, that somebody sitting in the secretary's office can say, i want to get rid of 20 or 30 or 50 hospital administrators because we have other people that we have in there, and we can just get rid of them, and they don't have a rate to defending themselves. i -- and they don't have a right to defend themselves. i worry about that. so clearly we have to di

they basically change the rules of the senate by breaking the rules of the senate. what he did was called by the parliamentarian of island -- a violation of senate roles. , substantively, was to lower the threshold for nominations for the executive branch, for the judiciary, except for the supreme court to 51. more importantly than that was how they did it. the precedent will always be there. it is hard to unring a bell. i think it was very damaging to the institution. to probably what you would like me to respond to which is, what would we do about that were we in the majority? my advice to my colleagues is that that is a discussion for december, if we're fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to set the agenda in the senate. then we will address the question. your question was about legislation, i assume, not about executive branch appointments. turning theor senate into a majority very an institution. tarianority are institution, even though we would have some short-term advantage by doing it. wondering, speaking of procedural fights, how do you see the amen

would the senate pass that? would they want to pass that? trying to reach out to women voters. >> and if they follow their instincts on that, they might just pass it and the courts, even the court we have now might just accept it. thank you. scary times. i've said this before, only losing five seats is a good night for the democrats this november. up next, the one thing jimmy fallon saw at the dinner that everybody else missed. i procrastinated on... buying a car because i knew... it would be a scary process. truecar made it very easy... for me to negotiate, because i didn't really need to do any negotiating at all. save time, save money, and never overpay. visit truecar.com oh! the name your price tool! you tell them how much you want to pay, and they help you find a policy that fits your budget. i told you to wear something comfortable! this is a polyester blend! whoa! uh...little help? i got you! unh! it's so beautiful! man: should we call security? no, this is just getting good. the name your price tool, still only from progressive. >> la

madam president, i yield the floor. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from georgia. mr. isakson: madam president, this congress, particularly this year, has not been noted for much of an accomplishment of anything. we've been at cloture-atrophy and political-atrophy. but we're about to change that for a dayi want to pause for a moment and acknowledge the hard work of a number of members of the house and senate on what's known as the water resources development act, which soon will be on the floor of the senate and i understand will be on the floor of the house today for its ratification. the water resources development act is "the" authority of the united states government to move forward on infrastructure across the country. i want to congratulate chairman shuster in the house and chairman boxer in the senate for their hard work on the conference committee, ranking member david vitter has been an untold hero for us working hard for the senate, as well as others who i want to give thanks to. sylvia burwell at o.m.b. has

the blue slip gives more power to individual senators. this is something you are interested in keeping together. if you pull it out a little and look at it more broadly, why do they want to push through the package of eight or so judges this is a part of? they are concerned they are going to lose the senate overall. the white house made the calculation, it's worth pushing him through in exchange for the nominees on the list. that's part of why you have seen majority leader reid pushing so many executive decisions through. it's one thing the senate has been highly or at least a little bit. >> follow that up a little bit then. if republicans win back the senate this year, the expectation with the white house and democrats, they are not getting anything through in the last two years of obama's presidency? >> they are not going to be particularly willing to move through judicial nominations in por tick lar. i would be reluctant to cast them. i'm sure the republican congress on the whole is interested in sending obama legislation he is not inte