[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 167 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S10312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. REID. Madam President, following leader remarks, if any, the 
Senate will proceed to executive session to consider the New START 
treaty. Rollcall votes are expected to occur throughout the day in 
relation to amendments to the treaty. The managers of this bill, 
Senator Kerry and Senator Lugar, are two of our most experienced 
Members, and they will do an outstanding job of managing this 
legislation.
  The current continuing resolution expires Saturday at midnight, so we 
need to take action to consider a funding resolution sometime in the 
next few days.
  Just an update on the schedule: The tax package which we passed 
yesterday is now in the House. They are going to consider that very 
likely today. We have the omnibus or the continuing resolution we have 
to deal with in the near future because, as I have indicated, the 
funding expires at midnight on Saturday.
  The DREAM Act is something we need to work on. It is an extremely 
important piece of legislation allowing young men and women to join the 
military. If they serve 2 years in the military, they would be eligible 
to get their green cards. It also allows them to continue their 
education. It is an extremely important piece of legislation.
  We have the 9/11 health matter; we need to reconsider that. We hope 
we can move forward on that matter. There are thousands of people who 
are desperately ill who need to be helped as a result of the terrorist 
attack that took place on 9/11.
  Yesterday the House passed don't ask, don't tell, and we are going to 
have to deal with that in some way.
  We have nominations, including that of Jim Cole, the Deputy Attorney 
General, we have been trying for several months now to get cleared--
that second ranking person in the entire Justice Department. It seems 
to me we are having trouble getting even a vote on this individual. So 
that is going to have to be resolved before we leave. It is extremely 
important we do that.

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