[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11791]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           VISIT TO THE SENATE BY PARLIAMENTARIANS OF BRITAIN

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, we have a group of British parliamentarians 
meeting with us. I see the distinguished Republican leader on the 
floor. Senator Cochran and I are leading a delegation to meet with 
them, and I am about to ask to put the Senate in recess subject to the 
call of the Chair, which will only be a matter of minutes, I assure my 
colleagues, so we can bring them on the floor.
  I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess, subject to 
the call of the Chair.
  There being no objection, the Senate, at 12:03 p.m., recessed subject 
to the call of the Chair and reassembled at 12:13 p.m., when called to 
order by the Presiding Officer.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Manchin). The Senator from Vermont.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, now that we are back in session, I thank my 
fellow Members, and Senator Cochran especially, for their courtesy in 
letting us go into recess so that we could bring a group of very 
distinguished British parliamentarians on the floor.
  I would note for the Senate that we meet every 2 years, American 
Senators and British parliamentarians of both the House of Commons and 
the House of Lords. We will do it once in England, once here. Two years 
ago we were over there, and this year we are meeting here. Four years 
ago, as Senator Cochran will recall, we met in the State of Vermont. 
But with changes in the Senate session, we are going to meet here in 
the Capitol.
  I thank you very much for the courtesy.
  I yield to the Senator from Mississippi.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi is recognized.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, it is a distinct honor and pleasure to 
join Senator Leahy in welcoming our guests from the United Kingdom to 
the Senate. This is a tradition we have really enjoyed and benefited 
from--the close opportunity to talk and discuss issues of mutual 
interest and concerns--and I think we reflect credit on the good 
relationship of both of our countries in that process. It is an honor 
to join him in welcoming them at this time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, 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. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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