[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 134 (Thursday, September 18, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5725-S5726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BANK ON STUDENTS EMERGENCY LOAN REFINANCING ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 409, S.
2432.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the motion.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 409, S. 2432, a bill to
amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the
refinancing of certain Federal student loans, and for other
purposes.
Schedule
Mr. REID. Mr. President, following my remarks, the Senate will be in
recess subject to the call of the Chair for the joint meeting with the
President of Ukraine.
When the Senate reconvenes, it will be in a period of morning
business until 1 p.m., with the time equally divided and controlled
between the two leaders or their designees. The Republicans will
control the first half and the majority will control the final half.
At 1 p.m. the Senate will proceed to the consideration of H.J. Res.
124, the continuing resolution. There will be up to 4\1/2\ hours of
debate prior to a series of rollcall votes followed by several voice
votes on executive nominations. Senators should expect the votes to
begin around 5 p.m.
Tribute to Jerry Linnell
Mr. President, in ancient Greece the keeping of history was
considered so important that Clio, daughter of Zeus, was believed
responsible for recording all that occurred on Earth--everything.
In the Senate we don't have Greek gods in charge of keeping our
records, but we do rely on the superhuman efforts of a group of
official reporters who transcribe every word we say. It is a hard, hard
job. Official reporters have to accustom their ears to all sorts of
accents from across our country, find ways to spell newly invented
words, try to listen to what I don't say very loudly, and all the other
issues they have to deal with, and they have to suffer through talking
filibusters. In fact, they may be the only people who dislike
filibusters more than I do.
Today I recognize just one of those hard-working official reporters--
the chief reporter of debates of the Senate Jerry Linnell, who is
retiring at the end of this month. For 32 years Jerry has been a staple
here in the Senate, ensuring that the words of Senators past and
present are correctly recorded for the American people. While he has
been here, he has witnessed many events. He has seen five different
Presidents occupy the White House, worked with eight different majority
leaders, transcribed speeches on everything from the Berlin Wall to
Senator Byrd's legendary lectures on the history of the Senate.
I wish Jerry all the best in his well-deserved retirement. I have no
doubt that he and his wife Jane will keep busy spending time with their
7 children and 11 grandchildren. And, of course, Jerry will have his
Washington Nationals to follow.
It has been a pleasant respite for me to spend time with Jerry
talking about baseball. He takes trips around the country that make me
so envious--watching different teams in different stadiums. I think he
has watched a baseball game in almost every Major League Baseball
stadium in America, and I am very envious of that.
The Senate is a better place because of Jerry's 32 years here. I,
along with every other Member of this body, thank Jerry for his many
years of service.
Continuing Resolution
Mr. President, yesterday the House of Representatives passed a
continuing resolution to keep our government from shutting down for the
next 3 months. In addition to keeping the government operating, this
measure includes provisions important to our national security, such as
funding to combat ISIS--an evil organization--by training and equipping
vetted Syrian opposition forces and aid to fight the spread of Ebola.
It is not perfect; that is for sure. But no legislation is. In this
era of radical ideologies and endless obstruction, the funding
resolution before us is infinitely better than the alternatives--
another shutdown of our government.
I think it speaks volumes that Speaker Boehner, Leader Pelosi, the
[[Page S5726]]
Republican leader, and I are supporting this legislation. That should
say a lot to the American people. As every Senator knows, the funding
bill we approve must first have passed the House of Representatives,
and it did that. Breaking up the legislation the House sent us is not a
viable option at this juncture. We need to complete our work on the
House-passed resolution as soon as possible. We have an agreement in
place to vote on this measure no later than 5:30 p.m. this evening.
With the cooperation of Senators, we could vote even earlier today.
There is one final unanimous consent request.
Authorization To Appoint Escort Committee
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the President of the
Senate be authorized to appoint a committee on the part of the Senate
to join with a like committee on the part of the House of
Representatives to escort His Excellency Petro Poroshenko into the
House Chamber for the joint meeting today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Walsh). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Recognition of the Minority Leader
The Republican leader is recognized.
Tribute to Jerry Linnell
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, it frequently happens when we head into
a recess that we have to say a reluctant farewell to some member of the
Senate family. So before I yield the floor, I wish to say a word of
thanks to Jerry Linnell, who has been a fixture here for more than 3
decades as an official reporter of debates and for the past 15 years as
a somewhat hidden fixture up on the fourth floor as the chief reporter.
It is a tough job having to listen to the rest of us drone on every
day, and as chief reporter Jerry has had the unenviable task of
reviewing every single word we have said.
In his trademark suspenders, Jerry is a friendly and unmistakable
presence up on the fourth floor, guiding his team through their daily
rounds and maintaining a level of professionalism and integrity that
has always been a key characteristic of the office.
It is a proud group. Back in the 1930s Senator Huey Long is said to
have donated his own personal Bible to the office so they would have a
handy reference when he quoted from it. It quickly became a tradition
for new reporters to sign it when they were hired and then once they
left.
In a sign of how dedicated these reporters are, only 35 names have
been entered in the Bible over the past 80 years. So it is a very
venerable fraternity, one that has its roots in article I of the
Constitution. We thank Jerry for his many, many years of dedicated,
honorable service.
I know Jerry and his wife Jane look forward to spending more time
with their many children and grandchildren. After listening to us for
all those years, I think he deserves it.
You have done your time. You have done it well. The entire Senate
family thanks you. Jerry, all the best.
I yield the floor.
Reservation of Leader Time
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the leadership time
is reserved.
Joint Meeting Of The Two Houses--Address By The President of Ukraine
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate stands in
recess subject to the call of the Chair in order to attend a joint
meeting of Congress.
Thereupon, the Senate, at 9:39 a.m. recessed subject to the call of
the Chair, and the Senate, preceded by the Deputy Sergeant at Arms,
Mike Stenger, the Secretary of the Senate, Nancy Erickson, and the Vice
President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., proceeded to the
Hall of the House of Representatives to hear an address delivered by
His Excellency Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine.
(The address delivered by the President of Ukraine to the joint
meeting of the two Houses of Congress is printed in the proceedings of
the House of Representatives in today's Record.)
Whereupon, at 11:11 a.m., the Senate, having returned to its Chamber,
reassembled and was called to order by the Presiding Officer (Mr.
Booker).
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