[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18427]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, last night we began the rule XIV process on 
two important bills--the DREAM Act and Firefighters Collective 
Bargaining.
  It had been my intent to file cloture on both of these bills. 
However, supporters of the original bills requested that modifications 
be made.
  Those changes are reflected in the bills we introduced last night, 
and I intend to move forward on both of these.
  In addition, I intend to file cloture this week on the 9/11 health 
bill. So I will file cloture on all three at the same time.
  The current continuing resolution expires this Friday. We are 
awaiting House action on short term CR which we will receive later this 
week.
  I hope Members on both sides of the aisle will allow us to act 
quickly on this short term CR when we receive it.
  As we work to clear the short term CR, the House and Senate 
Appropriations Committees are working on legislation to fund the 
government for the remainder of the fiscal year.
  Earlier this morning, I received a letter from my Republican 
colleagues indicating they will filibuster any legislative matter 
brought to the floor prior to the completion of the spending and tax 
bills. No one is more eager to put both these issues behind us than I; 
however, passing either will require Republican votes. I wish I could 
report we are close to wrapping up action on both bills, but we are 
not.
  The first meeting that was requested by the President is taking place 
this morning. Senator McConnell chose Senator Kyl to represent 
Republicans. I chose the chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator 
Baucus, to represent Democrats. So they are moving forward on that to 
see if there is something that can be worked out. My Republican 
colleagues knew this, as they drafted this letter; therefore, they also 
know that the true effect of this letter is to prevent the Senate from 
acting on many important issues that have bipartisan support. With this 
letter, they have simply put in writing the political strategy the 
Republicans have pursued this entire Congress; namely, obstruct and 
delay action on critical matters and then blame Democrats for not 
addressing the needs of the American people. It is cynical but obvious 
and transparent.
  We must move forward on matters of importance. We have numerous 
judges who need to be taken care of. I am trying to work something out 
with the Republican leader on those. I hope everyone understands there 
are issues we need to deal with. There are meetings going on as we 
speak to try to help us move forward and to allow us to complete action 
at the earliest possible date.

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