[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 91 (Thursday, July 13, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S7543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT AND NOMINATIONS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the Republican leader came to my office a 
few minutes ago and indicated he had some family situation that he 
needed to attend to. It was no emergency or anything, but it is late. 
It is a quarter to 8.
  On WRDA, we have cleared that on our side. And we have some 
nominations we have also cleared on our side. I am confident that 
WRDA--which we were planning to go to that Tuesday night after we 
finished the stem cell legislation--I am very confident we can work 
that out.
  As I indicated, we are set mechanically to go forward on WRDA. It has 
been cleared on both sides, even the time on the amendments. We thought 
we had the nominations worked out dealing with a very important agency 
of our Government.
  I am confident, I repeat, that we will be able to do that as soon as 
people are back in their offices.
  So I do not in any way retract my statements about how it is possible 
to work on things together around here. This was shown with the 
difficult time that Senators had working on the request that was 
brought before the Senate just a half hour ago or so.
  It is a very important bill. I have been chairman of the Environment 
and Public Works Committee on two separate occasions. It is very 
difficult to get things out of that committee because of different 
feelings people have on issues. But Senator Inhofe and Senator Boxer 
worked very well and got it to the floor.
  So I am hopeful that even maybe tomorrow we can do the unanimous 
consent request that has been laid before the Senate and have that 
approved. If not, we will do it Monday. I am hopeful and confident we 
can do that.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will please call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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