[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 7]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF PROCEDURE

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, we will proceed at 10:30 with the 
swearing in of Senator-designate Menendez, but we do have housekeeping 
matters to take up.
  I ask unanimous consent when the Senate completes its business today, 
it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Friday, January 20, for a pro forma session 
only and that Senators be permitted to introduce bills on that day 
until the hour of 11 a.m. I further ask consent that the Senate adjourn 
until Tuesday, January 24, at 10 a.m. for a pro forma session and that 
committees be permitted to file legislative and executive items until 5 
p.m. that day.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask consent following the pro forma 
session on Tuesday, the Senate stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m. on 
Wednesday, January 25. I further ask that following the prayer and 
pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings 
be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and the 
Senate then proceed to a period of morning business with Senators 
permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Under the order just entered, the Senate will return 
for regular business on Wednesday, January 25. On Tuesday, the 
Judiciary Committee should report the nomination of Samuel Alito to be 
an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. The 
leader has announced we will proceed to consider the nomination when it 
is available for floor debate and that will be on Wednesday. We will 
remain on the Alito nomination until we are able to vote on the 
confirmation. We hope to have an organized debate to allow all Members 
to speak. We will try to line up an order next week when we begin. The 
majority leader reiterates that Senators should be ready next week for 
this historic debate and that everyone should keep a flexible schedule 
so we can vote at the first available time.
  Mr. REID. If the distinguished Senator will yield.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have received calls from a significant 
number of Senators. Senator Frist is right, we will have a dignified 
debate. It will be organized. We will do whatever is appropriate 
according to who wants to speak. Most all Democratic Senators will want 
an opportunity to speak in regard to the nomination of Samuel Alito. We 
look forward to that sometime next week.
  I also ask that following the swearing in of Congressman Menendez, 
the only two speakers allowed in the Senate on this day are Senator 
Menendez and Senator Lautenberg, the two Senators from New Jersey. This 
is in keeping with the agreement I have with Senator Frist. I ask 
consent that be the case.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, so ordered.

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