[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 159 (Friday, October 19, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13146-S13147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 AGENDA

  Mr. REID. I have indicated, Madam President, we have a lot of work to 
do. The chairman of the Judiciary Committee and I have stated on a 
number of occasions that on controversial judicial nominations we are 
not going to move on those until the minority tells us that is what 
they want to do. One of those nominations is Judge Southwick. That 
matter was reported out of committee sometime ago, and both Senator 
Leahy and I have said that when the Republicans tell us they want to 
move to that nomination, we would do that. So sometime next week I am 
more than likely going to move to that matter. So I want everyone to 
know that, in fact, is the case.
  I also, Madam President, have indicated that one of our priorities is 
to do an energy bill this year. I had a meeting yesterday with 
Democratic chairs and other interested people, including Senator 
Cantwell and Senator Dorgan, to find out how we can move forward. We 
realize we can move forward. We have a number of issues that are 
important. The issues are somewhat limited. One is what are we going to 
do on CAFE, raising the fuel efficiency of vehicles? What are we going 
to do about a renewable portfolio standard? And what are we going to do 
about the tax aspect of this that will do a number of important things, 
not the least of which is give the great entrepreneurs

[[Page S13147]]

in our country the incentives to invest in alternative fuel--sun, wind, 
geothermal, biomass? We need this to be done on a multiple-year basis. 
So those are three important things we need to do.
  I have had a number of conversations with my Republican colleagues. 
Senator Domenici and Senator Lott--there are others with whom I have 
spoken--but just in recent days I have spoken to them. I spoke this 
morning with Leader Pelosi, the Speaker of the House. She wants to go 
to conference on this issue. One Republican Senator said: I understand 
you don't want to go to conference. The Speaker wants to go to 
conference. I want to go to conference. We would like to be able to do 
a bill, and we are going to do our very best to do that.
  We are going to include the Republicans on anything we do. We know we 
cannot do a bill unless we include the Republicans in it, and we are 
going to do that. We are going to do our utmost to come up with a 
strong bill, one that is in keeping with the needs of this country.
  Madam President, everyone is occupied on that side of the aisle, but 
I am going to, in the near future, when we have a Republican who can 
come to the floor, ask consent that the Senate proceed to the 
consideration of Calendar No. 340, which is H.R. 3221, which is the 
House Energy bill. And I will move that we go to conference on it. I 
will come out this afternoon, as soon as we can, and offer this 
unanimous consent request.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HARKIN. Madam 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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