[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 23]
[Senate]
[Page 31446]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              APPOINTMENT OF ACTING PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will please read a communication to 
the Senate from the President pro tempore (Mr. Byrd).
  The legislative clerk read the following letter:

                                                      U.S. Senate,


                                        President pro tempore,

                                Washington, DC, December 11, 2009.
     To the Senate:
       Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, of the 
     Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby appoint the Honorable 
     Jeff Merkley, a Senator from the State of Oregon, to perform 
     the duties of the Chair.
                                                   Robert C. Byrd,
                                            President pro tempore.

  Mr. MERKLEY thereupon assumed the chair as Acting President pro 
tempore.

                          ____________________