[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 195 (Saturday, December 17, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8768-S8769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations:
  Calendar Nos. 67, 86, 108, 112, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 
338, 339, 340, 344, 345, 346, 403, 413, 421, 422, 450, 456, 494, 495, 
496, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 511, 512, 513, 514, 
515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 529, 
530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539, 540, 541, 542, and 
543.
  Of course, Mr. President, I am asking unanimous consent that these 
numbers I have just read--which all are human beings--and all 
nominations be placed on the Secretary's desk; that the nominations be 
confirmed en bloc; the motions to reconsider be considered made and 
laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no 
further motions be in order to any of the nominations; that any related 
statements be printed in the Record; the President be immediately 
notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative 
session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. McCONNELL. Reserving the right to object, we are ready and 
willing to move forward by consent with a package of nominations, with 
positions both in the executive and judicial branches; and just as soon 
as I receive confirmation from the administration that it will respect 
the practice and the precedent on recess appointments, we can get those 
people confirmed.
  I look forward to receiving this confirmation from the administration 
so

[[Page S8769]]

we can go forward on this nominations package, but not having received 
that yet, Mr. President, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am disappointed that my friend objected, 
but I want the record to be spread with this:
  We have done a good job on nominations the last couple of months. 
Actually, in the last 3 months, we have accomplished quite a bit. But I 
am kind of reminded of my days of being a younger man and running a 
foot race. I wasn't fast enough for the short races, so I ran long 
races. But unless I started fast, it was really hard to catch up. That 
is my concern about these nominations. We have started so slowly, I am 
not sure we can catch up. I hope we can.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I will say that there will be 
nominations we will be able to work our way through, but as I 
indicated, the particular package the majority leader just proffered as 
it is currently constituted will not be able to go forward because of 
our inability to receive from the administration the assurances that 
have been routinely given at this point with regard to recess 
appointments.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________