[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3538]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                PROGRAM

  Mr. DURBIN. Today the Senate confirmed the nomination of GEN George 
Casey to be the Chief of Staff of the Army. Also, we began 
consideration of the continuing funding resolution, and cloture has 
been filed on the joint resolution. However, the majority leader has 
indicated on more than one occasion that we will continue to discuss 
the parameters of how the Senate will conclude action on the 
legislation. There will be no rollcall votes Friday, nor will the 
Senate be in session. Also, there will not be any rollcall votes 
Monday. However, we will be in session and continue our discussions 
about several issues, including the issue of BRAC, which has been the 
subject of some debate today. Senators are advised that the cloture 
vote on the funding resolution will occur Tuesday morning.
  Mr. President, at this point, in deference to the minority leader, to 
make sure there are not any housekeeping items that should be 
considered before we close business, 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. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, let me say to my good friend, the 
assistant Democratic leader, we appreciate the willingness of the 
majority leader and the Senator from Illinois to consider the 
amendments that we would like to offer to the continuing resolution. 
Members on my side of the aisle have been on the Senate floor all 
afternoon discussing what they believe to be the shortcomings of the 
continuing resolution as it is currently structured. I appreciate the 
majority taking a look at those amendments and allowing us to continue 
discussion about the appropriateness of making some adjustments to this 
massive $464 billion bill.
  I have also had some conversations with the majority leader about 
some nominations that we hope to wrap up next week. There is a circuit 
judge reported out of the Judiciary Committee today. I have an 
understanding with the majority leader that judge will be confirmed 
next week. There are some other executive branch nominations that we 
think should not generate any controversy that, hopefully, we can wrap 
up before the Lincoln recess.
  Mr. President, with that I yield the floor.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I am looking forward to working with the 
minority leader on the business ahead. We want to pass this continuing 
resolution and make sure there is no interruption in the services of 
our Government. We face an extraordinary challenge because much of the 
work that we are doing now is work that should have been done 
previously. But in a positive, constructive, and bipartisan fashion, I 
am confident we can complete it in time and not risk any possibility of 
shutting down the Government. So I look forward, on behalf of the 
majority leader on our side, to working closely with the minority and 
its leader.

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