E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 153 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2007 No. 20 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Monday, February 5, 2007, at 2 p.m. Senate THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2007 The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was to the Senate from the President pro of the Hall of Fame. It was my first called to order by the Honorable tempore (Mr. BYRD). time, during Thanksgiving, to visit the BARACK OBAMA, a Senator from the The assistant legislative clerk read Baseball Hall of Fame, and I came State of Illinois. the following letter: away with the realization of how few U.S. SENATE, PRAYER people are in that Baseball Hall of PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, Fame. JIM BUNNING is one of them. We The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- Washington, DC, February 1, 2007. talked a few minutes this morning, and fered the following prayer: To the Senate: Let us pray. Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, I asked him questions, such as: Who Sovereign Lord, permit us to feel of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby are the good catchers who caught you? Your nearness and to know the inspira- appoint the Honorable BARACK OBAMA, a And he said: Lots of them. And we tion of Your presence. May our close- Senator from the State of Illinois, to per- talked today about Clay Dalrymple, form the duties of the Chair. ness to You help us to choose light the man who caught his perfect game, ROBERT C. BYRD, over darkness, love over hate, and good President Pro tempore. and Gus Triandos. over evil. Today, provide for the needs of the Mr. OBAMA thereupon assumed the So just a little offshoot, Mr. Presi- Members of this body. Move among chair as Acting President pro tempore. dent. We are so fortunate to be Mem- them, instructing, lifting, and guiding f bers of the Senate for lots of reasons, them, so that whatever they do in word not the least of which is that we are RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY or deed, they will do it to glorify You. able to serve with a member of the LEADER Give them the confidence, security, Baseball Hall of Fame. and peace that comes from developing The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- a friendship with You as they open pore. The majority leader is recog- f their hearts to the inflow of Your spir- nized. it. Show them what needs to be f SCHEDULE changed, and give them the courage SENATOR JIM BUNNING and wisdom to do Your will. Mr. REID. Mr. President, this morn- We pray in Your glorious Name. Mr. REID. Mr. President, my goal as ing the Senate will be in a period of Amen. a boy was to be a baseball player. I morning business until 11:45 a.m. The f loved to listen to those baseball games, first 30 minutes will be controlled by and I could see myself in my mature PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE the Republicans, and the next 30 min- years chasing balls down in the out- utes will be controlled by the majority. The Honorable BARACK OBAMA led the field and hitting doubles to bring in the There is additional time for Members Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: winning run. That didn’t happen in my I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the life, but I have had the wonderful expe- to speak in morning business until the United States of America, and to the Repub- rience here in the Senate of being able hour of 11:45, if they wish. At that lic for which it stands, one nation under God, time, the Senate will proceed into ex- indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. to talk, as I was for a few minutes this ecutive session to consider three judi- f morning, to a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, JIM BUNNING. cial nominations. The debate time on APPOINTMENT OF ACTING I hope these pages here understand the three nominations is limited to 10 PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE that they have a rare opportunity, to minutes; therefore, Members can ex- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The be able to be in the same room, to pect rollcall votes as early as 11:55 this clerk will please read a communication shake someone’s hand who is a member morning. ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S1469 . VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:27 Jul 29, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 J:\CRONLINE\2007BA~3\2007NE~2\S01FE7.REC S01FE7 rfrederick on PROD1PC69 with CONG-REC-ONLINE S1470 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 1, 2007 The distinguished Republican leader that we would use these vehicles for de- nominations that were contentious in and I have had a number of conversa- bate. the last session, and I thank the major- tions about judicial nominations, f ity leader for his indication that we which, in the past, have been a real will move forward with Randy Smith, dustup. We are going to try to avoid MEASURES PLACED ON THE who is the nominee for the Ninth Cir- that this year. We hope to have the CALENDAR—H.J. RES. 20 AND S. 470 cuit, before the Lincoln recess. That is first circuit court nomination approved Mr. REID. Mr. President, before I an indication of good faith on his part, before the Presidents Day recess and turn this over to the Republican lead- which is greatly appreciated by me and will continue to work on district court er, there are two bills at the desk for a others on our side. trial judges and circuit court judges as second reading, is my understanding. With regard to Iraq, as the majority soon as we can. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- leader indicated, we continue to be in I personally want the record to re- pore. The Senator is correct. discussions about how to craft that de- flect that I appreciate the President The clerk will report the measures by bate. We certainly agree the debate not sending back four names that were title for the second time. will occur next week, and we are trying really controversial, and I think it is The assistant legislative clerk read to reach a consent agreement that better for the body that the President as follows: would allow us to have several dif- did not send up those names. I think A joint resolution (H.J. Res. 20) making ferent options that would reflect the we have to reciprocate in a way that is further continuing appropriations for the fis- sentiment of most Members of the Sen- appropriate, and we are going to try to cal year 2007, and for other purposes. ate about the current situation in Iraq do that by looking at these nomina- A bill (S. 470) to express the sense of Con- and the decision to go forward and try tions as quickly as we can. We are gress on Iraq. to quiet the capital city of Baghdad. So hopeful and somewhat confident the Mr. REID. Mr. President, I object to those discussions will continue President will send us some good cir- any further proceedings at this time throughout the day. cuit court nominees. with respect to these bills en bloc. With that, Mr. President, I yield the Once we have disposed of the nomina- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- floor. tions, we will resume debate, pore. Pursuant to rule XIV, the meas- postcloture, on H.R. 2, the minimum ures will be placed on the calendar. f wage bill. A vote on this matter should f RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME occur this afternoon. I will discuss that with the Republican leader so that RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Members will have notice as to when LEADER pore. Under the previous order, leader- that vote will occur. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- ship time is reserved. After we complete action on the min- pore. The Republican leader is recog- f imum wage bill, there will be an imme- nized. diate cloture vote on the motion to f MORNING BUSINESS proceed to S. Con. Res. 2, the bipar- SENATOR JIM BUNNING The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- tisan Iraq resolution. Last night, I pore. Under the previous order, there asked consent that we vitiate that clo- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, the will now be a period for the transaction ture vote. We are still working on that majority leader mentioned the baseball of morning business until 11:45 a.m., to see if we can work something out career of my colleague from Kentucky, with Senators permitted to speak with the Republicans as to whether we JIM BUNNING, and we are immensely therein for up to 10 minutes each, with have that vote. Most Democrats will proud of him in the Commonwealth of the first 30 minutes under the control vote against going forward on that Kentucky, not only as a great U.S. of the Republicans and the second 30 since there is now another matter that Senator but also somebody who lit- minutes under the control of the ma- will come before the Senate, at the lat- erally put our State on the map during jority. est on Monday. But we are working on his athletic career.