[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12313]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, following leader remarks, if any, the Senate 
will turn to a period of morning business for 2 hours, with Senators 
during that period of time allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes. 
Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to executive 
session and will debate the nomination of GEN David Petraeus. There 
will be up to 20 minutes for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of 
the nomination. Senators should expect that vote to occur around noon 
today.
  As a reminder to all Senators, last evening I filed cloture on 
unemployment insurance and the home buyer tax credit extension. That 
vote would occur tomorrow unless we arrange, by unanimous consent, 
sometime today to do this. I will work with the Republican leader on an 
agreement that would let us vote on that issue today if the minority is 
so determined.
  We will also be able to resume consideration of the small business 
jobs bill this afternoon. We will consider amendments. Rollcall votes 
are expected to occur throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
  I say to Democratic Senators, we were looking yesterday for an 
amendment, but none was available. So I agreed to have something happen 
in the interim and let the Republicans offer amendments if we have none 
ready or offered. I hope we will also be able to resume consideration 
of this matter and make headway. It is extremely important that we do 
that.
  On unemployment compensation, we really need to do this. I have had a 
number of conversations with Senators from individual States about how 
difficult it is for them to have these long-term unemployed no longer 
having anyplace to go for help, and there are newspaper articles about 
people who are desperate throughout America. So I hope we can do 
something on that.
  We have here, and I will call for it in a little bit, the reading of 
the bill we got from the House of Representatives dealing with 
extending the first-time home buyer tax credit. That will allow the 
paperwork to be completed. There is significant support on the other 
side for this, and I would hope we could do this by consent. If not, it 
will be part of the vote we have on unemployment compensation. There is 
no effort to do anything other than to get these two matters passed. So 
I would hope my friends on the other side of the aisle would consider 
just letting us do the home buyers assistance, the thing that passed 
the House. It is paid for. It has been agreed to by Democrats and 
Republicans. It passed the House last night with 400 votes--400 votes. 
So I would hope we could get that done by consent. It is the end of the 
month today, and we should get this done. I hope we can do that.
  As many people are aware, Senator Byrd will lay in repose in the 
Senate Chamber from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. tomorrow. The family will be 
in the Chamber from 10 a.m. until 12 noon. Members are encouraged to 
pay their respects to the family from 10:15 a.m. until 12 noon.
  Senate staff with floor privileges and a congressional ID are invited 
to pay respects from the Senate floor and should enter the Chamber 
through the north door of the Capitol. Members of the public and Senate 
staff without floor privileges are invited to pay tribute to Senator 
Byrd from the Senate galleries from 10:15 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. The 
public and staff without floor privileges should enter via the Capitol 
Visitor Center.

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